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The author of this psalm is unknown. This psalm is classified as a Hymn that is a descriptive psalm of praise. The author may have been correcting an ancient Egyptian poem written to worship the sun. If so, he surely displays that the suns maker, Yahweh, is the one to be worshiped rather than His creation. At the very least he had Genesis chapter 1 firmly in his mind as he wrote this psalm. Derek Kidner notes the Creation week of Genesis chapter 1 showing up in this hymn in an orderly way. William Kethe’s, “My Soul, Praise the Lord” and Robert Grant’s “O Worship the King” are based on this psalm.
Days Genesis 1 verses Psalm 104 verses Subjects
Day 1 3–5 2a light
Day 2 6–8 2b–4 atmosphere and water vapor canopy
Day 3 9–10, 11–13 5–9, 10–13,14–18 land and water distinct; vegetation, trees
Day 4 14–19 19–24 luminaries as timekeepers
Day 5 20–23 25–26 creatures of sea and air
Day 6 24–28, 29–31 21–24, 29–30 animals and man, food appointed for all
I. The praise of God’s majestic splendor in creation of the earth and sky (vs. 1–4)
A. I will praise Yahweh with my whole being
B. God’s creative acts declare His glory and give us a lot for which to praise Him
C. God is active yet separate from creation. This refutes both deism and pantheism
D. God is light, dwells in light, created natural light first, and light is vital to all life
E. God set up the atmosphere on earth for life and His manifold creation
F. God is in control of the wind, rain, and lightening
Hymn
O worship the King, all glorious above, O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace, O gratefully sing God's power & God's love; whose robe is the light, whose canopy space, our Shield & Defender, the Ancient of Days, whose chariots of wrath - deep thunderclouds form; pavilioned in splendor & girded with praise. & dark is God's path on - wings of the storm.
II. The divine formation of the land and the seas (vs. 5–9)
A. On day 3 the water that covered the mountains and valleys was assigned to the oceans
B. The dry land had already been formed, it was now visible from the sky
C. God’s covenant promise to Noah and mankind is the earth will never be flooded again
D. The poetic language for the earth’s rotation and spot in the solar system is used here
The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old;
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
III. The divine creation and preservation of land bound life on earth (vs. 10–18)
A. God is the source and sustainer of life through streams, rain, and snow
B. Man and many animals require O2 and H2O to survive
C. All the plants and animals are in the service of man, made in God’s image
D. God also provides food and medicine for all His creatures
E. Man’s purpose is not to work, but to glorify God by his work
F. Even the trees, birds, ibex and rock badgers get what they need from God’s created order
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
IV. The divine order and design in God’s created universe (vs. 19–23) **
A. The ancients all went by a lunar calendar which marked the four seasons
B. The moon has 29.5 days for each cycle, but visible there are 28 different moon phases
C. There are 7 visible planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn
D. God has put His order in creation, the lunar calendar gave a point of reference of time
E. Daylight and night are additional boundaries set by God
V. The divine wisdom in creation and usefulness of the oceans of the earth (vs. 24–26)
A. The natural world reveals God’s creativity and awesome wisdom
B. The sea reveals many amazing creatures at every depth
C. Even the amphibious dinosaurs reveal God’s great power
VI. The divine sovereignty in creation and recreation on the earth (vs. 27–30)
A. Yahweh provides what both man and animals need to survive
B. Yahweh sets the time for births and deaths
C. God life giving Spirit gives life and breath and new life
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
VII. The praise of God’s royal glory, awesome power, and holiness (vs. 31–35)
A. All of life is about the glory of God, this world displays His glory
B. God is powerful and holy; thus, He hates sin and His people hate sin
Lessons to live by:
• The triune Godhead created the universe; however, the Eternal Son of God was the primary agent of creation
• Paul says of Jesus: "because in connection with Him were created all things - in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, lordships, rulers or authorities - they have all been created through Him and for Him. He existed before all things, and He holds everything together." (Col 1:16–17 CJB)
• We can do nothing greater in our lives than bringing God glory. This is the main thing.
