Psalms 104:28

28 When thou givest to them, they gather it up; when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good things.

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 There go the ships, and Leviathan which thou didst form to sport in it.

27 These all look to thee, to give them their food in due season.

28 When thou givest to them, they gather it up; when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good things.

29 When thou hidest thy face, they are dismayed; when thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

30 When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground.