Psalms 104:8-18

8 (103-8) The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which thou hast founded for them.

9 (103-9) Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth.

10 (103-10) Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.

11 (103-11) All the beasts of the field shall drink: the wild asses shall expect in their thirst.

12 (103-12) Over them the birds of the air shall dwell: from the midst of the rocks they shall give forth their voices.

13 (103-13) Thou waterest the hills from thy upper rooms: the earth shall be filled with the fruit of thy works:

14 (103-14) Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of men. That thou mayst bring bread out of the earth:

15 (103-15) And that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man’s heart.

16 (103-16) The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted:

17 (103-17) There the sparrows shall make their nests. The highest of them is the house of the heron.

18 (103-18) The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the irchins.

Psalms 104:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 104

This psalm, though without a title, was probably written by David, since it begins and ends as the former does, as Aben Ezra observes; and to him the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, ascribe it. The inscription of the Syriac version is,

``a psalm of David, when he went to worship before the ark of the Lord with the priests; and as to us, it teaches us confession and prayer; and intimates to us the constitution of the beginning of the creatures; and declares some things concerning the angels.''

Some copies of the Septuagint version have it,

``a psalm of David concerning the constitution of the world;''

which indeed is the subject matter of it; for it treats of the creation of all things, of the heavens and the earth, and of all creatures in them; and of the providence of God in taking care of them. Christ is the divine Person addressed and described throughout the whole, as appears from the quotation of Ps 104:5 and the application of it to him in Heb 1:7.

\\Bless the Lord, O my soul\\ As for the blessings of grace and mercy expressed in the preceding psalm, so on account of the works of creation and providence, enumerated in this; in which Christ has an equal concern, as in the former.

\\O Lord my God, thou art very great\\; the Messiah, who is Jehovah our righteousness, Lord of all, truly God, and the God of his people; see Joh 20:28 and who is great, and very great, in his divine Person, being the great God, and our Saviour; great in all his works of creation, providence, and redemption; great in all his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; a Saviour, and a great one; the great Shepherd of the Sheep; the Man, Jehovah's Fellow.

\\Thou art clothed with honour and majesty\\; being the brightness of his Father's glory, and having on him the glory of the only begotten of the Father, and a natural majesty in him as the Son of God and King of the whole universe; and, as Mediator, he has honour and majesty laid upon him by his Father, Ps 21:5, he has all the regalia and ensigns of royal majesty; he is on a throne, high and lifted up, even the same with his divine Father; he has a crown of glory on his head, he is crowned with glory and honour; he has a sceptre of righteousness in his hand, and is arrayed in robes of majesty; and, as thus situated, is to look upon like a jasper and sardine stone; or as if he was covered with sparkling gems and precious stones, Re 4:2,3 and, having all power in heaven and earth, over angels and men, honour and glory given him by both. 23531-950516-0908-Ps104.2