Psalms 104 ~ Listen and Read Along

Dramatized KJV
 JV McGee
This is a Psalm of Nature, celebrating God's glory as seen in His works both inanimate and animate. It is an expansion of the closing verses of Psalms 103, and like that Psalm begins and ends with the phrase, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" Psalms 104 follows to some extent the order of the creation poem in Genesis 1, and may be compared also with Job 38-41. Psalm 104:5~9, 19 speak of the creation of the world, but the greater part of the Psalm describes its present condition and arrangements. The closing verses consist of an ascription of praise (v. 31~34), and a prayer for the destruction of the wicked (v. 35).

The Psalm gives an interpretation to the many voices of nature, and sings sweetly both of creation and providence. The poem contains a complete cosmos: sea and land, cloud and sunlight, plant and animal, light and darkness, life and death, are all proved to be expressive of the presence of the Lord. Traces of the six days' of creation are very evident, and though the creation of man, which was the crowning work of the sixth day, is not mentioned, this is accounted for from the fact that man is himself the singer:

Division of the psalm: 104:1~4 The heavens. 104:5~9 The earth. 104:10~13 The waters. 104:14-18 The plants. 104:19-23 The lights: arrangement of time. 104:24~30 The wisdom of God in creation. 104:31~35 Praise on the occasion of creation.

It is a poet's version of Genesis. Nor is it alone the present condition of the earth which is here the subject of song; but a hint is given of those holier times when we shall see "a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," out of which the sinner shall be consumed, Psalm 104:35. The spirit of ardent praise to God runs through the whole, and with it a distinct realization of the divine Being as a personal existence, loved and trusted as well as adored.

The Treasury of David

 

O Lord My God, You Are Very Great    

Psalms 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psalms 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Psalms 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Psalms 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Psalms 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Psalms 104:6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
Psalms 104:7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
Psalms 104:8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Psalms 104:9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
Psalms 104:10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
Psalms 104:11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
Psalms 104:12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
Psalms 104:13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
Psalms 104:14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
Psalms 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
Psalms 104:16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
Psalms 104:17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
Psalms 104:18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
Psalms 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Psalms 104:20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
Psalms 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
Psalms 104:22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Psalms 104:23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Psalms 104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
Psalms 104:26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
Psalms 104:27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
Psalms 104:28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Psalms 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Psalms 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psalms 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
Psalms 104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
Psalms 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psalms 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Psalms 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
  
  
  We find five psalms related to creation:

  1. Psalm 8 Creation and man (Psa_8:4-9).
  2. Psalm 19 Creation and the law, the Word of God (Psalm 19:1~6).
  3. Psalm 29 The forces of nature, especially thunder (Psalm 29:3~9).
  4. Psalm 104 The cosmos, which speaks of God's eternal power and Divine nature (Psalm 104:1~32; Romans 1:20; Genesis 1-2).
  5. Psalm 148 Creation joins to give thanks the LORD (Psaln 148:1~14).


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