Psalms 104:20

20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.

Psalms 104:20 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:20

Thou makest darkness, and it is night
The darkness was before the light, and the night before the day, ( Genesis 1:2 Genesis 1:4 Genesis 1:5 ) and now the darkness and night are made by the setting of the sun before mentioned; see ( Isaiah 45:7 ) .

Wherein all the beasts of the field do creep forth;
out of their dens, and range about for their prey, as the evening wolves and others: and these are not the only creatures that choose the night and darkness; all wicked men do the same; whose deeds are evil, and do not care to come to the light, lest they should be reproved; particularly drunkards, adulterers, thieves, and murderers, ( John 3:20 John 3:21 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 5:7 ) ( Job 24:13-17 ) . So the Scribes and Pharisees, when they consulted to take away the life of Christ, and agreed with Judas to betray him, did it in the night: so false teachers, who are wolves in sheep's clothing, when it is a night of darkness with the church, take the advantage of it, to creep about and spread their pernicious doctrines; see ( 2 Timothy 3:6 ) ( Jude 1:4 ) .

Psalms 104:20 In-Context

18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.