Psalms 104:20

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. THOU MAKEST DARKNESS ... WHEREIN ALL THE BEASTS OF THE FOREST DO CREEP FORTH. THE YOUNG LIONS ... SEEK THEIR MEAT FROM GOD - who is the Provider alike of their proper prey and of the darkness wherein they can get it ()....

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 104:20. _THOU MAKEST DARKNESS_] It is not the design of God that there should be either constant _darkness_ or constant _light_. That man may _labour_, he gives him, by means of the _sun_, the _light of_ _the day_; and that he may _rest_ from his labour, and get his strength recruited, he gives him _night_, and comparative _darkness_. And as it would not be convenient for man and the wild beasts of the forest to collect their food _at the same time_, he has given the _night_ to them as the proper time to procure their prey, and the _day_ to rest in. When _MAN labours, THEY rest; when MAN rests,_ _THEY labour_....

THOU MAKEST DARKNESS, AND IT IS NIGHT - Thou hast made arrangements for the return of night - for the alternations of day and night. The Hebrew word rendered “makest,” means “to place;” and the idea is, that God constitutes the darkness, or so disposes things that it occurs. WHEREIN ALL THE BEASTS OF THE FOREST - The margin is, “the beasts thereof do trample on the forest.” The reference is to the beasts which seek their prey at night. DO CREEP FORTH - The Hebrew word used here means properly “to creep,” as the smaller animals do, which have feet, as mice, lizards, crabs, or as those do which glide or drag themselves upon the ground, having no feet, as worms and serpents. Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:26

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

THOU MAKEST DARKNESS, AND IT IS NIGHT,.... The darkness was before the light, and the night before the day, Genesis 1:2 and now the darkness and night are made by the setting of the sun before mentioned; see Isaiah 45:7. WHEREIN ALL THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD DO CREEP FORTH; out of their dens, and range about for their prey, as the evening wolves and others: and these are not the only creatures that choose the night and darkness; all wicked men do the same; whose deeds are evil, and do not care to come to the light, lest they should be reproved; particularly drunkards, adulterers, thieves, and murderers, John 3:20. So the Scribes and Pharisees, when they consulted to take away the life of Christ, and agreed with Judas to

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

PSALMS 104 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Creation Hymn. ANALYSIS It is difficult to frame an Analysis of this psalm. The course of thought and observation followed therein bears Some Resemblance to the Method Pursued in Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3; but the Differences are Considerable. So far as the psalm submits itself to external measurement, it may be said that 10-line stanzas prevail; but two out of the six run up to 20 and 17 lines respectively. The chief _refrain_ of the previous psalm is repeated here. There is here no Superscribed Line, as to the previous psalm there was no Subscribed Line: probably furnishing evidence that the Two Psalms at an early time became Practically One. (Lm. None) 1