Psalm 104

God’s Creation and Providence

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Intro

Psalm 104 is a hymn of praise to God, the Creator and Sustainer of the world. It reflects on the intricate details of the natural world as a testament to God's wisdom and provision. Through the lens of the New Covenant, it points to Jesus Christ, through whom all things were made, and in whom all things hold together.

Section 1: God's Majesty and Wisdom in Creation (Verses 1-9)

"Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind. He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire. He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them. You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don’t turn again to cover the earth. "

Harmony

The declaration of God's majesty and wisdom in creation is echoed in Colossians 1:16, which says that by Christ, all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.

Talking Points:

1. The psalmist's exclamation of praise to God for His greatness.

2. The vivid imagery describing God's majestic creation.

3. God's wisdom and power in setting boundaries for the seas.

Questions:

1. How can we cultivate a similar sense of awe and wonder at God's greatness as shown in His creation?

2. How does the imagery used in this section help us appreciate the beauty of God's creation?

3. How does God's control over the natural world affirm His sovereignty and wisdom?

Section 2: God's Providential Care (Verses 10-23)

"He sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains. They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works. He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth: wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart. Yahweh’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted; where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the cypress trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers. He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set. You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away, and lay down in their dens. Man goes out to his work, to his labor until the evening. "

Harmony

God's provision for all His creatures mirrors Matthew 6:26, where Jesus points to God's care for the birds of the air as a reassurance of His care for us.

Talking Points:

1. The detailed accounts of God's providential care for all His creatures.

2. The interdependence within the created order as a testament to God's wisdom.

3. God's meticulous care in providing for both the grand and small aspects of creation.

Questions:

1. How do we see God's providential care in our own lives and in the world around us?

2. What does the interdependence within the created order teach us about our place and role within creation?

3. How does God's meticulous care for creation affect our trust in Him?

Section 3: Rejoicing in God's Sovereign Rule (Verses 24-35)

"Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals. There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good. You hide your face: they are troubled; you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust. You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground. Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works. He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being. Let my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!"

Harmony

The rejoicing in God's sovereign rule aligns with Colossians 1:17, which proclaims that in Christ all things hold together, indicating His supreme power and authority.

Talking Points:

1. The recognition of God's wisdom in creating the multitude of His works.

2. The psalmist's personal commitment to praise God throughout his life.

3. The joyful anticipation of being pleasing to God and finding gladness in Him.

Questions:

1. How does the realization of God's wisdom in creation inspire us to praise Him?

2. How can we cultivate a lifelong habit of praising God?

3. How does the psalmist's anticipation of being pleasing to God guide our own desires and goals?

Summary

Psalm 104:1-35 is a hymn of praise to God for His majesty, wisdom, and providence in creation. 

Mirroring these sentiments in the New Covenant, Christ is revealed as the agent of creation (Colossians 1:16), the provider who cares for even the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26), and the one in whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). 

The psalm invites us to join in praising God for His majesty in creation, to trust in His providential care, and to rejoice in His sovereign rule.

Psalms