Psalms 104:19

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. HE APPOINTED THE MOON FOR SEASONS - `appointed times' (cf. ). The moon is mentioned before the sun, as the evening or night is mentioned in before the morning or day. The Hebrews in reckoning began the day from evening. The first divisions of time were marked by the moon. THE SUN KNOWETH HIS GOING DOWN. The sun observes the exact times of his rising and setting by God's THE SUN KNOWETH HIS GOING DOWN. The sun observes the exact times of his rising and setting by God's appointment (, "caused the day-spring to know his place"). The moon's apparent variations are greater than the sun's. The sun never remains abo...

19._He hath appointed the moon to distinguish seasons _The Psalmist now comes to another commendation of God’s providence as manifested in the beautiful arrangement by which the course of the sun and moon alternately succeeds each other; for the diversity in their mutual changes is so far from producing confusion, that all must easily perceive the impossibility of finding any better method of distinguishing time. When it is said, that the _moon was appointed to distinguish seasons, _interpreters agree that this is to be understood of the ordinary and appointed feasts. The Hebrews having been accustomed to compute their months by the moon, this served for regulating their festival days and assemblies, both sacred and political. (194) The prophet, I have no doubt, by the figure synecdoche, puts a part for the whole, intimating, that the moon not only distinguishes the days from the nights,...

19-30 We are to praise and magnify God for the constant succession of day and night. And see how those are like to the wild beasts, who wait for the twilight, and have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Does God listen to the language of mere nature, even in ravenous creatures, and shall he not much more interpret favourably the language of grace in his own people, though weak and broken groanings which cannot be uttered? There is the work of every day, which is to be done in its day, which man must apply to every morning, and which he must continue in till evening; it will be time enough to rest when the night comes, in which no man can work. The psalmist wonders at the works of God. The works of art, the more closely they are looked upon, the more rough they appear; the works of nature appear more fine and exact. They are all made in wisdom, for they all answer the end...

Verse Psalms 104:19. _HE APPOINTED THE MOON FOR SEASONS_] The heathens thought that the _sun_ and _moon_ were gods, and worshipped them as such. The psalmist shows, 1. That they are creatures dependent on God for their being and continuance; and, 2. That they were made for the use of man. See what has been said on these luminaries in the notes on Genesis 1:14-1....

HE APPOINTED THE MOON FOR SEASONS - Genesis 1:14. That is, The moon, as well as the sun, is appointed to divide time; to determine its progress; to indicate the return of festival occasions, or appointed times to be observed in any manner. It is, in fact, the foundation of the division of the year into “months,” and consequently the indication of all that is to be observed in the “months” of the year. But for this, there would be no natural divisions of time except those of day and night, and of the year. How great an advantage it is for the purpose of life, to have time broken up into brief intervals or periods which can be marked and remembered, both in our private life and in history, it is not necessary to say. God has been pleased to add to the natural divisions of time into days, and years, and months, an “artificial” division - the “fourth” part of the m

EXPOSITION "THE psalmist, in a time of severe trouble, arising from the power of the heathen, seeks consolation in reflecting on the greatness of God in nature," So Hengstenberg, correctly. The main topic of the psalm (Psalms 104:2) is thus the greatness of God as seen in his works. A direct ascription of praise precedes (Psalms 104:1) and follows (Psalms 104:33-19) the description of God's wonders in nature. PSALMS 104:1 BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL (see the comment on P

HE APPOINTETH THE MOON FOR SEASONS,.... Or, "he made" e; for the moon is the work of his hands, Psalms 8:3 as is likewise the sun. From the rain the psalmist passes to the luminaries; for this reason, as Aben Ezra thinks, because they are the cause of rain: the moon is taken notice of in the first place, because, as Kimchi observes, the night was before the day; and in the night of the fourth day were the sun, moon, and stars; but the sun rose in the morning. The moon was made for seasons as well as the sun, Genesis 1:16 or that times might be numbered by it, as the Targum, both months and years; one of its courses and revolutions making a month, and twelve of these a year; which lunar years were in use among some nations: as also it is supposed to have an influence on the ebbing and flowing of the tides; and serve

I trust that we have already felt something of holy enjoyment while our hearts and voices have been praising the Lord our God. Perhaps this Psalm may help to keep us in a praising state of mind. First of all, David sang of the majesty of God in his works; then it seems as if the spirit of praise within him became like a strong-winged angel, and, mounting into the sky, he began to soar aloft over the varied landscapes of the world until the sun went down; and even then, he continued scudding along through the darkness till the sun arose again, and found him still praising his God. We will note, as we read the Psalm, this strange, mysterious flight of the spirit of praise. Psalms 104:1. _Bless the LORD, O my soul._ There is the key-note. Strike it, my brethren, each one of you!...

Psalms 104 Creation's Praise _ 1. The Creator (Psalms 104:1)_ 2. The foundations of the earth (Psalms 104:5) 3. His works manifesting His kindness (Psalms 104:10) 4. How manifold are Thy works (Psalms 104:24) 5. Rejoicing in His works: Hallelujah! (Psalms 104:31) He is now praised as the Creator by creation. He is seen in His creator-glory. When the kingdom is established that glory will then be manifes

CIV. THE GLORY OF THE CREATOR. Psalms 104:1. Yahweh's power in the heavens. He is clothed in the light which God made first (Genesis 1:3) before the heavenly bodies. He lays the foundation of His dwelling in the waters above the firmament (Genesis 1:7 *). Thence He issues from time to time in person riding on the clouds (Isaiah 19:1), or else sends His message by wind or flame. Psalms 104:5. Separation of land and sea. Psalms 104:10. God's c