Psalms 104:3

3 who dost establish his chambers between the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks upon the wings of the wind,

Psalms 104:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:3

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters
Or "his upper rooms" F9; one story over another being built by him in the heavens, ( Amos 9:6 ) , the chambers where he resides; his courts, as the Targum; his palace and apartments, his presence chamber particularly, the floor and beams of them are the waters bound up in the thick clouds; or the region of the air, from whence the rain descends to water the hills, as in ( Psalms 104:13 ) .

Who maketh the clouds his chariot;
to ride in; in these sometimes Jehovah rides to execute judgment on his enemies, ( Isaiah 19:1 ) and in these sometimes he appears in a way of grace and mercy to his people, ( Exodus 13:21 ) ( 19:9 ) ( 1 Kings 8:11 ) ( Matthew 17:5 ) , in these, as in chariots, Christ went up to heaven; and in these will he come a second time; and into these will the saints be caught up to meet the Lord in the air at his coming, ( Acts 1:9 ) ( Revelation 1:7 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 4:17 ) .

Who walketh upon the wings of the wind;
see ( Psalms 18:10 ) which is expressive of his swiftness in coming to help and assist his people in time of need; who helps, and that right early; and may very well be applied both to the first and second coming of Christ, who came leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills, when he first came; and, when he comes a second time, will be as a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of spices, ( Song of Solomon 2:8 ) ( 8:14 ) . The Targum is,

``upon the swift clouds, like the wings of an eagle;''

hence, perhaps, it is, the Heathens have a notion of Jupiter's being carried in a chariot through the air, when it thunders and lightens {k}.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (wytwyle) , (uperwa) , Sept. "coenacula sua superiora", Gejerus; so Michaelis.
F11 Vid. Horat. Camin. l. 1. Ode 34. v. 5. "Namque diespiter" Et. Ode 12. v. 58. "Tu gravi curru quaties Olympum".

Psalms 104:3 In-Context

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty,
2 who dost cover thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain,
3 who dost establish his chambers between the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks upon the wings of the wind,
4 who makes his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire,
5 who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved by any age.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010