Psalms 104:7

7 When you rebuked the waters, they fled; they rushed away when they heard your shout of command.

Psalms 104:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:7

At thy rebuke they fled
The depths of water that covered the earth fled, went off apace, when Christ, the essential Word, gave the word of command that they should; saying, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so", ( Genesis 1:9 ) and this being called a "rebuke", suggests as if there was something amiss, irregular and disorderly, and to be amended; as if these waters were not in their proper place.

At the voice of thy thunder they hasted away;
ran off with great precipitancy; just as a servant, when his master puts on a stern countenance, and speaks to him in a thundering, menacing manner, hastes away from him to do his will and work. This is an instance of the mighty power of Christ; and by the same power he removed the waters of the deluge; when they covered the earth, and the tops of the highest hills; and rebuked the Red sea, and it became dry land; and drove back the waters of Jordan for the Israelites to pass through; and who also rebuked the sea of Galilee when his disciples were in distress: and with equal ease can he and does he remove the depth of sin and darkness from his people at conversion; rebukes Satan, and delivers out of his temptations, when he comes in like a flood; and rebukes the waters of affliction when they threaten to overwhelm; who are his servants, and come when he bids them come, and go when he bids them go.

Psalms 104:7 In-Context

5 You have set the earth firmly on its foundations, and it will never be moved.
6 You placed the ocean over it like a robe, and the water covered the mountains.
7 When you rebuked the waters, they fled; they rushed away when they heard your shout of command.
8 They flowed over the mountains and into the valleys, to the place you had made for them.
9 You set a boundary they can never pass, to keep them from covering the earth again.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.