ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Psalms 104

Psalm Ps. 104. The phrase “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” which opens and closes the psalm, shows that the psalm is about reasons for speaking well of God. This hymn of praise celebrates the way creation reveals God’s glory by providing so abundantly for all living things. Although it does not use many specific words from Gen. 1:1–2:3, the creation account surely influences the psalm. Genesis 1:1–2:3 uses the term “God” for the deity, stressing his role as the transcendent Creator. Psalm 104 primarily uses “the Lord,” the personal name of the covenant God of Israel, who is the same being as the majestic Creator (see note on Gen. 2:4). This psalm joins Psalm 8 as a reflection on God’s continuing commitment to, and care for, his creation.

Ps. 104:1–4 The first section of the psalm sets the tone: O Lord my God, you are very great! The various images all express the magnificence of the God who made the world and continues to rule it.

Ps. 104:5–9 On the third day of creation, God separated the land and the water. The dry land is therefore a safe and suitable place for its inhabitants. The description here is more imaginative than what is given in Gen. 1:9–10.

Ps. 104:10–13 God abundantly supplies the water that the land animals depend on. Although God made the world an ideal place for human beings to live, his creation is filled with more creatures than simply the ones useful to man (e.g., wild donkeys).

Ps. 104:14–18 God provides for all plants, domesticated animals and crops, and wild creatures. God’s care also extends to the unclean animals, such as the stork (Lev. 11:19; Deut. 14:18; see Introduction to Leviticus for “unclean”) and the rock badgers.

Ps. 104:15 The bread serves human need. The uses of wine and oil described here are for enjoyment.

Ps. 104:19–24 On the fourth creation day, God appointed the celestial lights to mark off time for mankind. The lights still do what God appointed them to do. These verses help the Israelites to see the rhythm of their lives, by which they work during the day and rest at night, as part of the creation order (see note on Gen. 1:3–5) and in the context of the other animals’ activities. Man was given work to do in the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15), but after the fall his work became tiring and painful (Gen. 3:17–18).

Ps. 104:25–26 After celebrating God’s care for the land animals, the song moves on to the open sea . . . which teems with creatures innumerable (corresponding to the fifth creation day, Gen. 1:20–23). Leviathan (see note on Ps. 74:14) here is probably a poetic name for a whale, and is therefore one of the “great sea creatures” (Gen. 1:21). The admiration continues, as the song says that God formed Leviathan to play in the sea.

Ps. 104:27–30 Each living thing on the land and sea (these all) depends on God to supply their food in due season and their very breath.

Ps. 104:31–35 The key to the final section is the repeated “rejoice”: may the Lord rejoice in his works (what he does in caring for his creation), and I rejoice in the Lord (who shows such abundant generosity in his works). Verse 35 is the only mention of human sin in the entire psalm, though the curse on sin is implied in v. 29. Sinners and the wicked are those who reject God’s gracious rule and dwell in their rebellion. consumed from the earth. The purpose of this psalm is not to encourage hatred of human sinners, but rather hatred of all sorts of sin that harms God’s good creation. The faithful will not want to be identified with such people. They will want their own lives to be more and more in tune with the goodness of God.