Psalms 104:1 - 35
ESV - 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty. 2 Covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
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Harold Wilmington provides us with a basic outline of Psalm 104. The psalmist recognizes that the universe is created by and is totally dependent upon a single Creator. I. THE PRAISE TO GOD (Ps 104:1, 24, 31, 33-35): The psalmist worships the Lord for several reasons: A. For his greatness: "You are robed with honor and with majesty" (Ps 104:1). The psalm opens with the description of a King so great (Ps 95:3; Hab. 3:4) that He wears light for a robe (Ps 93:1; Isa. 59:17; 1 John 1:5; 1 Tim. 6:16) Warren Wiersbe B. For his variety of creation: "The earth is full of your creatures" (Ps 104:24). “Whether we study invisible microscopic life, visible plant and animal life, human life, or the myriad of things that have no life, the diversity in creation is amazing. God could have made a drab, colorless world, one season everywhere, only one variety of each plant and animal, cookie-cutter humans, no musical sounds, and a few minimal kinds of food–but He did not, and how grateful we are! Only a wise God could have planned so many different things, and only a powerful God could have brought them into being. “The earth is full of thy riches” (Ps 104:24). The word translated “riches” means “possessions, property,” reminding us that God made it all, God owns it all, and God has the right to tell us how to use it all. God wants us to enjoy His creation (1 Tim. 6:17) and employ it wisely. When we exploit our wonderful world, we sin and forget that we are stewards, not owners, and that one day we must give an account of how we have used these precious and irreplaceable gifts. The sea monsters (whales? Gen. 1:21) frolic and play in the ocean and God enjoys them! But God does not enjoy seeing us ruin His handiwork just to make money.” Wiersbe C. For his glory: "May the glory of the LORD last forever!" (Ps 104:31). D. For his pleasure: "I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!" (Ps 104:33). The psalmist wants the Lord to be pleased with his praise. II. THE POWER OF GOD (Ps 104:2-9, 32) A. He stretches out the heavens (Ps 104:2): He makes them a starry curtain. B. He rides the clouds as his chariots (Ps 104:3): He lays out the rafters of his home in the rain clouds. (see the Ps 104:3 NLT) He uses the clouds for His chariot and the winds to move them (Ps 18:7-15; 68:4; 77:16-19). WWW C. He sends forth fire and the winds (Ps 104:4): They are his messengers and servants. “His servants (the angels, Ps 148:8; Heb. 1:7) serve as quickly and invisibly as the wind and possess awesome power like flames of fire”. Wiersbe D. He placed the world on its foundation (Ps 104:5): It can never be moved. “The 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 (Isa 65:17; Rev 21:1). The same power that undergirds the world also provides a firm foundation for believers.” LASB E. He controls the waters (Ps 104:6-9): He sent the great flood. F. He controls the earth and mountains (Ps 104:8, 32): They rise and sink, as God decrees. The earth trembles, and the mountains burst into flame at his glance. Ill. THE PROVISIONS FROM GOD (Ps 104:10-23, 25-30): He cares and provides for all his creation. A. Water (Ps 104:10-13): He quenches the animals' thirst. B. Food (Ps 104:13, 15, 23, 27-28): He provides a crop from human labor including wine, olive oil, and bread. Everyone and everything depend on God for food. “The result of God’s wisdom in creation and bountiful provision is seen in Ps 104:27-30 – all life looks to him for their food and for their breath. This Psalm is screaming with the faithfulness of God. He faithfully provides food and gives air to breath and living creatures know it so they constantly look to him for it. If you’ve ever owned a pet, you understand the picture.
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