Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Reflections on Psalms 104

 Psalms 104(Contemporary English Version)
  1. I praise you, LORD God, with all my heart. You are glorious and majestic, dressed in royal robes
  2. and surrounded by light. You spread out the sky like a tent,
  3. and you built your home over the mighty ocean. The clouds are your chariot with the wind as its wings.
  4. The winds are your messengers, and flames of fire are your servants.
  5. You built foundations for the earth, and it will never be shaken.
  6. You covered the earth with the ocean that rose above the mountains.
  7. Then your voice thundered! And the water flowed
  8. down the mountains and through the valleys to the place you prepared.
  9. Now you have set boundaries, so that the water will never flood the earth again.
  10. You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys,
  11. so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst.
  12. Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees.
  13. From your home above you send rain on the hills and water the earth.
  14. You let the earth produce grass for cattle, plants for our food,
  15. wine to cheer us up, olive oil for our skin, and grain for our health.
  16. Our LORD, your trees always have water, and so do the cedars you planted in Lebanon.
  17. Birds nest in those trees, and storks make their home in the fir trees.
  18. Wild goats find a home in the tall mountains, and small animals can hide between the rocks.
  19. You created the moon to tell us the seasons. The sun knows when to set,
  20. and you made the darkness, so the animals in the forest could come out at night.
  21. Lions roar as they hunt for the food you provide.
  22. But when morning comes, they return to their dens,
  23. then we go out to work until the end of day.
  24. Our LORD, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures.
  25. But what about the ocean so big and wide? It is alive with creatures, large and small.
  26. And there are the ships, as well as Leviathan, the monster you created to splash in the sea.
  27. All of these depend on you to provide them with food,
  28. and you feed each one with your own hand, until they are full.
  29. But when you turn away, they are terrified; when you end their life, they die and rot.
  30. You created all of them by your Spirit, and you give new life to the earth.
  31. Our LORD, we pray that your glory will last forever and that you will be pleased with what you have done.
  32. You look at the earth, and it trembles. You touch the mountains, and smoke goes up.
  33. As long as I live, I will sing and praise you, the LORD God.
  34. I hope my thoughts will please you, because you are the one who makes me glad.
  35. Destroy all wicked sinners from the earth once and for all. With all my heart I praise you, LORD! I praise you!

Though the writer of Psalms 104 is not identified, the psalm begins as did Psalms 103, "My soul, praise the Lord!" Following this opening statement of praise the writer proclaims that God is great which is based on His role as Creator. The psalms then proceeds to detail God's acts of creating and sustaining all that exists.
God is described as being clothed in the majesty and splendor of His creation. He is wrapped in light as a robe under the spreading canopy of the sky. His palace is established on the waters that are above, making the "clouds His chariot" and walking on the "wings of the wind." The winds are His messengers and flames of fire His servants. In establishing the earth on its foundations He made it to last forever - "it will never be shaken." Whatever is to happen to the earth, it will not be destroyed.

Following this description of God's majesty, we are given select details of His acts of creation. First, He brought order to the waters that covered the earth and they receded to their appointed places making visible the mountains and valleys. In doing this, God set boundaries for the waters that cannot be crossed allowing the waters to again cover the earth. Water plays a prominent role in creation. It must be subdued to allow for other life to emerge, and then it must be made to flow by way of springs and rivers to sustain the forms of life that cover the earth including vegetation that feeds the livestock, crops that produce food for man, and trees that provide nesting places for the birds. The high mountains provide a home for goats, and the cliffs a refuge for hyraxes.

Beyond the earth are the moon and sun that provide light and darkness, marking the seasons and establishing a time frame for man and animals. The forest animals use the darkness of night while man uses the light of day. Then there is the sea which is "vast and wide" which God has filled with creatures beyond number. All of it is dependent on God to provide food at the right time. God holds the key to life and death for all these creatures. In fact, for all of creation. God's acts of creation did not end when man was made, but continues throughout time as He renews life everyday, over and over again.

The thought of all this should cause man to "sing praise to the Lord" throughout his lifetime. We should be continually awed by God's greatness. Nothing has escaped His consideration. He has provided for every need. He is never caught by surprise. "My soul, praise the Lord! Hallelujah!"

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