104:1ffThis psalm is a poetic summary of God’s creation of the world as found in the first chapter of Genesis. What God created each day is mentioned by the writer as a reason to praise God. On day one, God created light (104:1, 2; Genesis 1:3); day two, the heavens and the waters (104:2, 3; Genesis 1:6); day three, land and vegetation (104:6-18; Genesis 1:9-13); day four, the sun, moon, and stars (104:19-23; Genesis 1:14-16); day five, fish and birds (104:25, 26; Genesis 1:20-23); and on day six, animals, people, and food to sustain them (104:21-24, 27-30; Genesis 1:24-31). God's act of creation deserves the praise of all people.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 104
Psalm 104
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 952, 953, 954
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
104Psalm 104
1You are robed with honor and majesty.
2You are dressed in a robe of light.You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.You make the clouds your chariot;you ride upon the wings of the wind.
4The winds are your messengers;flames of fire are your servants.*
5You placed the world on its foundationso it would never be moved.
6You clothed the earth with floods of water,water that covered even the mountains.
7At your command, the water fled;at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
8Mountains rose and valleys sankto the levels you decreed.
9Then you set a firm boundary for the seas,so they would never again cover the earth.
10You make springs pour water into the ravines,so streams gush down from the mountains.
11They provide water for all the animals,and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12The birds nest beside the streamsand sing among the branches of the trees.
13You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home,and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
14You cause grass to grow for the livestockand plants for people to use.You allow them to produce food from the earth—18 wine to make them glad,olive oil to soothe their skin,and bread to give them strength.
16The trees of the LORD are well cared for—the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17There the birds make their nests,and the storks make their homes in the cypresses.
18High in the mountains live the wild goats,and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.*
19You made the moon to mark the seasons,and the sun knows when to set.
20You send the darkness, and it becomes night,when all the forest animals prowl about.
21Then the young lions roar for their prey,stalking the food provided by God.
22At dawn they slink backinto their dens to rest.
23Then people go off to their work,where they labor until evening.
24O LORD, what a variety of things you have made!In wisdom you have made them all.The earth is full of your creatures.
25Here is the ocean, vast and wide,teeming with life of every kind,both large and small.
26See the ships sailing along,and Leviathan,* which you made to play in the sea.
27They all depend on youto give them food as they need it.
28When you supply it, they gather it.You open your hand to feed them,and they are richly satisfied.
29But if you turn away from them, they panic.When you take away their breath,they die and turn again to dust.
30When you give them your breath,* life is created,and you renew the face of the earth.
31May the glory of the LORD continue forever!The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made!
32The earth trembles at his glance;the mountains smoke at his touch.
33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live.Iwill praise my God to my last breath!
34May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,for I rejoice in the LORD.
36Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Theme: God's mighty deeds in bringing Israel to the Promised L miracles encourages us to keep living close to him.
Textual footnotes
- creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literature.
- 104:4 Greek version reads He sends his angels like the winds, / his servants like flames of fire. Compare Heb *
- 104:18 Or coneys, or rock badgers.
- 104:26 The identification of Leviathan is disputed,
- 104:30 Or When you send your Spirit.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
104:5The earth is built on God’s foundations, and he guarantees its permanence. “It would never be moved” by anyone other than God. Even though one day the heavens and the earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10), he will create a new heaven and a new earth that will last forever (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1). The same power that undergirds the world also provides a firm foundation fer believers.
104:24Creation is filled with stunning variety, revealing the rich creativity, goodness, and wisdom of our toving God. As you observe your natural surroundings, thank God for his Creativity. Take a fresh took at people, seeing each one as God's unique creation, with his or her own special talents, abilities, and gifts.
104:26Here “Leviathan” almost certainly refers to a large and active sea creature.
104:28-30Psalm 105 expresses God’s sovereignty in history; this psalm tells of his sovereignty over all creation. God has supreme, unlimited power over the entire universe. He creates; he preserves; he governs. As we understand God’s power, we realize that he is sufficient to handle our lives.
104:29Today many people are arrogant enough to think they don’t need God. But our every breath depends on the life he has breathed into us (Genesis 2:7; 3:19; Job 33:4; 34:14, 15; Daniel 5:23). Not only do we depend on God for fife, but he wants the best for us. We should also desire to learn more of his plans for us each day.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 953
HOW GOD IS DESCRIBED IN PSALMS
_ ranging from an earthly
Most of the psalms speak to God or about God. Because they were composed in a variety of situations, various facets of God’s character are mentioned. Here is a sample of God’s characteristics as understood and experienced by the psalm writers. As you read these psalms, ask yourself if this is the God you know.
Godis... Reference All-knowing and ever present.. 2.0... ec cee eee Psalm 139 Beautiful and desirable... 0. cece ee eee Psalms 27; 36; 45 Creator eee ee Psalms 8; 104; 148 Good and generous.... 6. eee Psalms 34; 81; 107 Great and sover@ign... 0... 6... cece eens Psalms 33; 89; 96 LO) \ a Psalms 66; 99; 145 Loving and faithful... 6... eee ees Psalms 23; 42; 51 Merciful and forgiving...... 0... cece eee Psalms 32; 111; 180 Powerful... tte eee ee Psalms 76: 89; 93 Willing to reveal his will, law, and direction...............0005 Psalms 1: 19; 119 Righteous and just... 6... ee eee Psalms 71; 97; 113 Spirit Psalms 104; 139; 143
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Study feature · page 954
Praise the LORD!
Remembering his
_and.
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Study feature · page 954
Jesus promised, “Everyone who seeks, finds” (Matthew 7:8). The writer suggested a valuable way to find God—become familiar with the way he has helped his people in the past. The Bible records the history of God’s people. In searching its pages we will discover a loving God who is waiting for us to find him. 105:6-11 The nation Israel, the people through whom God revealed his laws to everyone, is descended from Abraham. God chose Abraham and promised that his descendants would live in the land of Canaan (now called Israel) and that they would be too numerous to count (Genesis 17:6-8). Abraham's son was Isaac; Isaac’s son was Jacob. These three men are considered the patriarchs or founders of Israel. God blessed them because of their faith (see Hebrews 11:8-21).