Psalms 104

The Prophet stirring up himself to the praising of God, maketh an excellent rehearsal of the mighty power, Majesty and Wisdom of the Lord, manifestly appearing as well in the creating, as in the governing and constant maintaining of all things, vowing that he will praise the same while he liveth, and cursing the unthankfulness of the wicked.

1. Praise the LORD my soul: O LORD my God, thou art very great, thou art cloathed with Majesty and Glory.

2. He covereth himself with the light, as with a raiment: [Or, he arrayeth, hangeth, or wrappeth himself about: See the Annot. Job 40.on verse 4.] he stretcheth out the heavens as a Curtain.

3. Who flooreth his upper halls [Hereby are understood the several Regions which are in the Aire, or in the Firmament, where they abide hanging as it were, as v.33.] in the waters: [or with the waters, which are above in the Clouds, Gen.1.7. See Job 26:8.] who maketh his Chariot of the clouds; [Heb. Who setteth or putteth the Clouds for his Chariot] who walketh upon the wings of wind. [i.e. upon the wind, which flieth away as swiftly, as if it had wings; See Isai.19.1.]

4. , He maketh his Angels spirits; [i.e. maketh and useth the Angels as Messengers, for several dispatches and expeditions.] The Apostle Heb.1.7. reflecting to this passage concludeth the Angels to be creatures, and ministering spirits: or winds, which the Angels may be likened unto for their swiftiness] his ministers to a flaming fire. [i.e. he giveth them extraordinary strength and ability to execute his judgements, in so much that they go forth, and pass through like fire. Hence it is, that the Angels are called Scraphim, Isa.6.2. which signifieth burning, or flaming (ones.) See 2 Kings 2:11. and 6.17.]

5. He hath founded the earth upon her foundations: [The Prophet will say here, that that the earth is so firmly founded by the LORD, as if it were set and stood upon a most strong and solid foundation to support it. See the Annot.Psalm 24.on v.2. and Job 26.on v.7.] It shall never nor eternally more waver.

6. Thou hadst covered it with the Abyss as with a garment: [viz. From the beginning of the Creation unto the third day, when first the earth was made dry, Gen.1.9.10. the waters covered the earth likewise in the days of the deluge. Gen.7.19. By the Abyss understand the deep and bottomless waters which God created on the first day, Gen.1.2.] the waters stood above the mountains.

7. From thy chiding they fled, [it seemeth that by Gods chiding there are to be understood mighty winds and tempest. See Psalms 18:16. Others, from thy chiding, i.e. from (or upon) thine earnest command. See Job 26.on v.12.] they hastened away before the face of thy thunder: [that is, by reason or upon thy great and mighty voice, which is like thunder.]

8. The hills rose up, the valleys descended, to the place which thou hadst founded for them, [i.e. in the lower parts of the earth, Gen.1.9,10. Job 38:10.11. or the whole verse may be read thus. They (viz. The waters) rose (or sprang) upon the hills, and descended through the valleys toward the place, which thou hadst founded it for, viz. For the waters.]

9. Thou hast set a pale (or border) which they shall not pass over; [They, the waters namely, Compare with the words of the Text, Job 26:10. and 38.10,11.] they shall not cover the earth again. [viz. Unless it be that thou commandest them, as in the flood. Heb. They shall not return to cover the earth, or covering the earth.]

10. Who sendeth forth the fountains thorough the valleys; [understand here by the fountains, the brooks and rivers which take their source or rise from the fountains, as appeareth by the words immediately following] that they pass, walk along [or run: as likewise Psalms 105:41. betwixt the mountains.

11. They drench (or water) every beast of the field: the wild Asses break their thirst (with it) [viz. With the waters of those fountains and rivers. Others, they quenched their thirst with in.]

12. By them doth dwell the fowl of heaven, [i.e. All sorts of birds flying in the Heaven, that is in the Air] giving a voice from between the boughs.

13. He drencheth [i.e. he watereth (or, moisteneth) viz. With rain water] the hills out of his upper halls: [i.e. out of the clouds, as above v.3.] the earth is satisfied, [as if he said, the earth doth or hath quenched its thirst with the rain after a great drowth;] from the fruit of thy works. [i.e. from the rain which God alone giveth, Jerem.10.13. and 14.22. or, from the rain, which by thy work O LORD, is produced o made to issue forth, like a fruit: from the rain it is that corn and grass doth grow, and all mare of herbs and fruit trees. Compare with this Job 38:26. 27, 28. Deut.11.14,15.]

14. He maketh the grass to sprout forth for the beasts, [See the Annot. 1 King.18.5.] and the herb [i.e. all kinds of herbs, for either food or physic.] for the service of man, making the bread is made, as Job 28:5. Eccles.11.1. Isa.28.28. and 30.23. The word bread, doth signify here, as in many places else, all sorts of food and sustenance] to come forth out earth.

15. And the wine, [viz. Doth he make to come forth, the wine, that is the Vine whereon the grapes do grow, which contain the wine;] which cheareth the heart of man; [See Jud.9.9.13. Psalms 23:5.] making the face to shine of Oyle; [it was of old very usual in Jewry, that people anointed their bodies, especially the head and face with Oyle, to refresh the same; Psalms 23:5.] and the bread, [i.e. the corn out of which the bread is made.] which strengtheneth the heart of man, [or supporteth, underproppeth, etc. See 1 Kings 13.v.7.]

16. The trees of the LORD, [i.e. the very high and lofty trees. See the Annot. Above, Psalm 80.v.11. or those that come forth and grow without any human pains or industry, onely by Gods providence] are satisfied, [viz. With the rain; as if he should say; how great and tall soever the trees be, yet they get sap and nourishment enough from the rain to make them grow and flourish] The Cedar trees of Libanon; [these trees grow to a very great height and bigness, especially, upon mount Libanon] which he hath planted.

17. Where the little birds [See Gen.7.14. and Levit.14.7.] do nestile: The Storks, [See Levit.11.on v.19.] house are the Fir-trees. [See 1 Kings 8:5.]

18. The high hills are for the wild Goats: the Rocks, [i.e. the holes and clests which are in and among the rocky mountains] are a refuge for the Connies. [See Prov.30.24,26.]

19. He hath made the Moon for the set seasons: [See Gen.1.19.] the Sun knoweth his going down. [viz. Where and when he is to go down, in all the seasons of the year. Heb. His entrance, or, his going in; to wit, what time he is to go into his bed-chamber. SEE Job chap.38.12. [Psalms 19:6.]

20. Thou disposest, (or sittest) the darkness, [viz. By the going down of the Sun] and it growth night, in which [night namely] all the beasts of the wood step forth: [viz. Each one out of its den or lurking-hole.]

21. The young Liona, [viz. Creep forth out of their holes] roaring for a prey, and for to seek their food of God: [intimating, that the roaring of the Lions, is their prayer as it were, whereby they seek to God for livelihood and sustenance.]

22. The Sun arising, they get themselves away: [viz. To their holes and dens again. Hebr. They gather themselves] and lie down in their holes. [Hebr. In their dwellings.]

23. Man goeth forth (then) to his work, and after his labour [Or field-work husbandry] until the evening.

24. How great are thy works, O LORD? [Or, how many. Etc.] Thou hast made them all with wisdom, the Earth is full of thy goods. [i.e. of riches which properly belong to thee.]

25. This Sea which is great and wide of room; [Heb. Wide, or spacious, on both hands; that is on both sides large and spacious: as Gen.34.21. Nehem.7.4.] therein in is the crawling creature, and that without number, small creatures with great.

26. There the ships walk, and the Leviathan, [See Psalms 74:14. This Seamonster is described at Large, Job 40:20.] whom thou hast formed to sport therein. [even as the Behemoth and other beasts do sport it upon the hills, Job 40:15.]

27. All they [To wit, all the beasts or creatures, spoken of before] do wait upon thee, that thou give (them) their meat [i.e. the food which thou hast appointed for them] in its season, [in sit and convenient time and season.]

28. Giving it them, they gather it: opening thy hand, they are satisfied with good. [See Job 21:13.]

29. Hiding thy face, [i.e. When, or if at any time thou dost withdraw thy blessing] they are affrighted: taking away [or, gathering] their breath, [or spirit] they die, [or they go out, or they give up the ghost. Or they breath cut] and they turn again to their dust. [i.e. unto that, out of which they were made.]

30. Sending forth thy Spirit, [Understand this of the holy Spirit, by whom all things were first created, and are maintained and renewed hitherto from time to time; as Job 33:4. Psalms 33:6.] they are created; and thou renewest the surface of the earth. [viz. By producing still new creatures, instead of those that die and perish Eccles.1.v.4.]

31. The glory of the LORD, be into Eternity: the LORD rejoice in his works. [Taking pleasure in his Works and creatures, for to uphold, and not to destroy them: the contrary whereof is, when the LORD is said to repent his having made man, or other things, ad resolveth to destroy them.]

32. When he looketh on the earth, it shaketh: [viz. Because of his Glory and Majesty. See Exod.19.18.] When he toucheth the hills, they smoak. [this is a sign of terror and affrightment, as Psalms 144:5.]

33. I will sing unto the LORD in my life; I will sing Psalms to my God, while I am yet.

34. My mediatation of him, [Or my devout discourse] shall be sweet: I will rejoice in the LORD.

35. The sinners were dispatched, or consumed, &c. Such namely, as give over themselves to sinning, Psalms 1:1. Job.9.31. and being unthankful, do not honour the Lord in the use of his creatures, of which this Psalm hath treated all along, to the praise the LORD, my soul; Halelujah. [that is, praise ye the LORD. The Christian Church hath retained the Hebrew word Halelujah, from the Jewish Church, serving to rowse and stir up one another to the praise of God in the holy Congregation. See Revel.19.1.3.]