Psalm 104

Our loving God is in control of His creation
Death in heaven? See on verse 21.
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Text	Explanation
This psalm is a companion to 103 which expresses the wonder of God's loving compassion. Here in 104 we are shown His marvelous works of creation. We are reminded of creation week as we see light v2, waters, land v5, animals and birds v11f, vegetation v14. Mercy toward humans is the subject of psalm 103. We end this psalm with the destruction of the wicked v35.
1 ¶ Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. .2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: .3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: .4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire	1 - Bless the Lord This is an expression of love and praise. See how this blessing is equivalent to or associated with praise in ps06303f.   1 - Clothed ps09301, ps00805.   2 - With light This is the covering of angels 2co1114 and I believe it was the clothes worn by Adam and Eve before the fall ge0307. The light is all God's. It is His robe of righteousness which He grants to those committed to Him. We receive it only spiritually now 1jo0302.   3 - Beams in the waters The water of the sky is the source of rain. Compare ge0107. Chambers actually "upper chambers."   3 - Clouds Jesus Christ was taken to heaven in a cloud (of angels), will return in a cloud, and appeared in a cloud to John holding a little book ac0109, re0107, re1001.   4 - Maketh His angels See he0107. The text may also read "who makes winds His messengers" but the context here and the application in Hebrews argues for the way it is stated here.
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.   6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. .7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.  8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.   9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.	5 - Foundations Having studied some geology I think of the vast areas of sedimentary rock but these were formed at the time of the flood from "mud" flows that spread. The "foundations" here would be the precambrian rock beneath that. Or perhaps it is simply the dry ground which was separated out of the formless earth ge0109.    9 - Turn not again See ge0915. Before Jesus returns, the earth and the wicked is to be destroyed by fire 2pe0306,7.
10 ¶ He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.   11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.   12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.   13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.	10 - Sendeth the springs Continuing the description of the Lord's loving care for us and all His creatures through the elements of nature.   13 - The earth is satisfied Personified as a thirsty person. As our world continues to decay through the anger of nations, the limiting of freedom, and nature, at times we need to pray for rain.
.14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; .15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.  .16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;  17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.  18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.	14 - Grass ... for the service Literally, "... for the culture, etc., by which he secures the results."   15 - Wine ... oil For our happiness.
19 ¶ He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.  20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. .21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.  22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. .23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.	21 - Lions roar ... prey Some find a problem in this and similar verses. If the lion and and the wolf feed together is6525. Also see "sinners be consumed" in verse 35. Some believe that this chapter is in error because there will be no death in heaven re2104. The Psalmist is not writing about the Garden of Eden but about his current world.   23 - Work ... until evening And some work all night, too. Here temperance is important. Also compare jn0904.
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.24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.  25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. .26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.	24 - Leviathan Described in jb41.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.  28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. .29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.  30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.	29 - Breath .From ruach which is also translated "spirit." Returning to dust is from the curse pronounced after the fall of humanity ge0319. The breath/spirit is removed. At the resurrection the breath/spirit (ruach) will be restored to the righteous and they will be again "created." The word is literally translated from bara'. Compare ps14604, ec0905. The idea that the dead don't really die came from Greek mythology. For more about death, see page of page of links to texts on the topic.
31 ¶ The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.   32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.  33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. .35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.	35 - Let the sinners be consumed This obviously hasn't happened yet but will at the end of the thousand years. That they will cease to exist (be no more) see ob15,16. See link to Rev. 20 there.

Some have pointed out parallels between this psalm and the Egyptians' Hymn to Aten. The similar lines, however, don't match well and the vast majority don't match at all.