시편 Chapter 104

Translation: ESV

1

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

Key Message

The created world is the garment that reveals God's greatness and majesty; finding God through nature is true worship.

Psalm 104 is a great creation hymn praising God through nature.

Psalm 104 is a great creation hymn praising God through nature. While Psalm 103 praised God's historical salvation, Psalm 104 praises God's greatness revealed in creation. 'Clothed with splendor and majesty' means that God's glory is revealed through the created world.

2

covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

Key Message

God is the essence of light, and the entire universe is like a tabernacle for his dwelling.

God wearing light as a garment shows that light is God's essential attribute.

3

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;

Key Message

God's presence and power are revealed in the grand phenomena of nature.

God using clouds as his chariot and wind as wings shows that God comes and moves through natural phenomena.

4

he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

Key Message

Even natural phenomena like wind and fire become God's messengers; all nature is under God's governance.

Wind and fire are natural phenomena but also God's servants.

5

He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

Key Message

The stability of the created world is based on God's faithful governance; those who trust the Creator will not be shaken.

God firmly set the foundations of the earth so it is stable.

10

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;

Key Message

The supply of life-sustaining water is God's providential care.

God making springs gush forth and streams flow shows that the supply of life-sustaining water is in God's hands.

14

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth

Key Message

Daily bread is God's gift; recognizing the Creator's care in the abundance of nature is faith.

God supplies food for both animals and humans.

24

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Key Message

The diversity and order of creation is an expression of God's infinite wisdom; studying nature is exploring God's wisdom.

This is an exclamation of wonder before the diversity and abundance of creation.

29

When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

Key Message

The breath of all life is in God's hands; when he withdraws breath, creatures return to dust.

The fact that all life dies when God withdraws breath declares that the source of life is wholly in God.

30

When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Key Message

God's Spirit is the power of creation and the one who renews the face of the ground.

Creation occurs and renewal takes place by God sending forth his Spirit.

33

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

Key Message

One who truly sees the beauty of creation responds with a lifetime of praise.

This is the personal resolve that emerges after meditating on the greatness of creation.

34

May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

Key Message

Discovering the Creator through creation and rejoicing in the Creator himself is the completion of faith.

The conclusion of the creation praise is joy in God.