Psalm 104: This is My Father’s World

​Key Verse
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works,
 
Meditation
Maltbie Babcock was the Presbyterian pastor who penned the sixteen-stanza poem beginning with the line, “This is my Father’s world.” First published after his untimely death in 1901, the poem is worship flowing from celebration of God’s work in creation. The majesty of creation magnifies the Maker, and God invites His people to marvel at His character through considering creation and His faithfulness to sustain it for the glory of His name. 

Today’s psalm celebrates God’s creative work in the heavens (vv. 1-4), the earth (vv. 5-23), and the sea (vv. 24-26) as well as God’s sustaining work for all His creatures (vv. 27-30), all for our joy and His glory (vv. 31-35). The creation days of Genesis 1 provide the skeleton of this psalm of praise, with an inverted presentation of land and sea creatures to highlight God’s authority over everything, even over the leviathan (v. 27).
 
The work of wisdom made creation (v. 24, Proverbs 3:19; 8:22-31). Wisdom was the Word that spoke creation into existence (John 1:1-3), like a “master workman” God delighted in His masterpiece. Likewise, the works of our Master invite us to delight in Him through considering the majesty of what He made.
 
Jesus is the Word, wisdom that worked the angles of God’s creation. “All things hold together” in Jesus (Colossians 1:17) who “upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).  To consider creation is to cultivate a focus on Jesus Himself, deepening wonder and worship!
 
God’s wonderous works of creation cultivate worship and praise for people who pause to consider the majesty of the Maker and Sustainer.
 
Today’s Reading
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
    O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2     covering yourself with light as with a garment,
    stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
    he rides on the wings of the wind;
4 he makes his messengers winds,
    his ministers a flaming fire.
5 He set the earth on its foundations,
    so that it should never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
    the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At your rebuke they fled;
    at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
    to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
    so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
    they flow between the hills;
11 they give drink to every beast of the field;
    the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
    they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
    the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
    and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
15     and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine
    and bread to strengthen man's heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
    the stork has her home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
    the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons;
    the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
    when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

21 The young lions roar for their prey,
    seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they steal away
    and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
    and to his labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
    In wisdom have you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, great and wide,
    which teems with creatures innumerable,
    living things both small and great.

26 There go the ships,
    and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
27 These all look to you,
    to give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
    when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
    when you take away their breath, they die
    and return to their dust.

30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
    and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke!
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
    and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the celebration of God’s creative power and His character revealed in His sustaining power?
 
-Do you take time to consider the majesty of creation? Why or why not? Consider the meditation on Psalm 8 to deepen your marvel at His majesty.
 
-God is the focus of all worship. Take time today to sit in creation and worship God for the beauty, grace, redemption, and renewal you see all around you. Discover the joy He wants you to experience through glorifying His name.
 
Key Verse
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works,