Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
PSALMS 104
1 Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Praise the Lord.
Application Notes
104:1-35 This psalm poetically summarizes God's creation of the world as found in the first chapter of Genesis. The writer mentions what God created each day as a reason to praise God. On day one, God created light (Psalm 104:1-2; Genesis 1:3); day two, the heavens and the waters (Psalm 104:2-3; Genesis 1:6); day three, land and vegetation (Psalm 104:6-18; Genesis 1:9-13); day four, the sun, moon, and stars (Psalm 104:19-23; Genesis l:14-16); day five, fish and birds (Psalm 104:12, 25-26; Genesis 1:20-23); and day six, animals, people, and food to sustain them (Psalm 104:21-24, 27-30; Genesis 1:24-31). God's act of creation deserves the praise of all people.
104:5 God built the earth on its foundations, and he guarantees its permanence the same way. “It can never be moved” by anyone other than God. Eventually, he will create a new heaven and new earth that will last forever {Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1). The same power by which he undergirds the world also provides a firm foundation for believers.
104:24 In creation we find stunning variety, revealing the rich creativity, goodness, and wisdom of our loving God. As you notice and enjoy your natural surroundings, thank God for his creativity. Take a fresh look at people, seeing each one as God's unique creation, each with his or her own special talents, abilities, and gifts.
104:26 Here “Leviathan” likely refers to a large and active sea creature.
104:28-35 Psalm 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 boundless power, we can rest in his authority over our lives.
104:29 Today many people arrogantly assume they don't need God. But our every breath depends on the spirit 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 life, but he loves us and wants the best for us. We should let him renew us each day while also seeking to follow his plans for us.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)