Psalms 104:28

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are filled with good food.

Psalms 104:28 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:28

That thou givest them they gather
What God bestows upon them as a bounty of Providence they take and make use of, and in their way thankfully, and without repining; some gather it up for immediate use and service, and not into barns; others gather it up for time to come, as the ant, ( Matthew 6:26 ) ( Proverbs 6:8 ) . Kimchi understands this of a time of scarcity, when they gather here a little and there a little; as he does the following clause of a time of plenty.

Thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good;
God, in whose hand all things are, and from whence all things come, opens his hand of providence, and liberally and bountifully gives, as this phrase signifies, ( Deuteronomy 15:11 ) and all his creatures are filled with his good things to their satisfaction: and thus the spiritual food which he gives his people, they gather it by the hand of faith, as the Israelites gathered the manna in the wilderness every morning, and according to their eating, what was sufficient for them; and to whom he gives liberally, even all things richly to enjoy; all things pertaining to life and godliness; Christ, and all things along with him; abundance of grace here, and glory hereafter; and they are satisfied with his good things as with marrow and fatness.

Psalms 104:28 In-Context

26 Ships travel over the ocean, and there is the sea monster Leviathan, which you made to play there.
27 All these things depend on you to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are filled with good food.
29 When you turn away from them, they become frightened. When you take away their breath, they die and turn to dust.
30 When you breathe on them, they are created, and you make the land new again.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.