PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:1. The phrase “Bless the LORD, O my soul,” which opens and closes the psalm, shows that the psalm is about reasons for speaking well of God. This hymn of praise celebrates the way creation reveals God’s glory by providing so abundantly for all living things. Although i... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:5 On the third day of creation, God separated the land and the water. The dry land is therefore a safe and suitable place for its inhabitants. The description here is more imaginative than what is given in Genesis 1:9. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img")... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:10 God abundantly supplies the water that the land animals depend on. Although God made the world an ideal place for human beings to live, his creation is filled with more creatures than simply the ones useful to man (e.g., WILD DONKEYS). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElem... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:14 God provides for all plants, domesticated animals and crops, and wild creatures. God’s care also extends to the unclean animals, such as the STORK (Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18; see Introduction to Leviticus for “unclean”) and the ROCK BADGERS. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:15 The BREAD serves human need. The uses of WINE and OIL described here are for enjoyment. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:19 On the fourth creation day, God appointed the celestial lights to mark off time for mankind. The lights still do what God appointed them to do. These verses help the Israelites to see the rhythm of their lives, by which they work during the day and rest at night, as part... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:25 After celebrating God’s care for the land animals, the song moves on to the open SEA... WHICH TEEMS WITH CREATURES INNUMERABLE (corresponding to the fifth creation day, Genesis 1:20). LEVIATHAN (see note on Ps. 74:14) here is probably a poetic name for a whale, and is the... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:27 Each living thing on the land and sea (THESE ALL) depends on God to supply their FOOD IN DUE SEASON and their very BREATH. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 104:31 The key to the final section is the repeated “rejoice”: MAY THE LORD REJOICE IN HIS WORKS (what he does in caring for his creation), and I REJOICE IN THE LORD (who shows such abundant generosity in his works). Verse Psalms 104:35 is the only mention of human sin in the en... [ Continue Reading ]