104:1 [psalm begins with a self-admonition…] Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD [Yahweh, the name associated with God’s covenant relationship to His people; Israel’s covenant God] my [the psalmist expressed his personal knowledge of God; the psalmist had a personal relationship with the God whom he praised] God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with [note kingly terms used to describe God…] honour and majesty.

104:2 Who coverest [to clothe or wrap] thyself with light [there is no darkness in Him at all (1 Jn. 1:5)] as with a garment [a regal robe]: who stretchest out [like a tentmaker spreading canvas across the tent frame] the heavens like a curtain [canopy]:

104:3 Who layeth the beams [this actions speaks of plan and design] of his chambers [palace; the universe is God’s palace] in the waters: who [like a mighty conquering warrior] maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

104:4 Who maketh [nature must do God’s bidding] his angels [messengers] spirits [winds]; his ministers [servants] a flaming fire [probably lightening]:

104:5 Who laid [established or set in place] the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever [God alone is the source of stability].

104:6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

104:7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

104:8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

104:9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

104:10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

104:11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

104:12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

104:13 He watereth [God makes provision for His creation] the hills from his chambers [palace or heavenly dwelling place; “heavenly home” (NKJV)]: the earth [the earth is totally dependent on God] is satisfied with the fruit of thy works [God’s labor on behalf of the earth].

104:14 He causeth the grass to grow [as a result of the rains He sends] for the cattle [part of God’s provision to sustain the human race], and herb for the service of man [“for people to use” (NLT)]: that he [man] may bring forth [by cultivation] food out of the earth;

104:15 And [note that God makes provisions beyond the ordinary demands of life…] wine [available in various stages of fermentation] that maketh glad [should not be understood as happiness induced by intoxication; cf. Ps. 78:65; Prov. 20:1; 21:17; 23:29-30 re: wine producing misery] the heart of man, and oil [a soothing solution; oil used as fuel for lamps, food, lubrication, medicine; possibly a remedy to avoid the discomfort of sunburned face] to make his face to shine, and bread [often synonymous with food in general; a basic need of human existence (cf. Deut. 8:3)] which strengtheneth [sustain; to put new strength into a depleted condition] man’s heart.

104:16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

104:17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

104:18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

104:20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

104:22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

104:23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

104:24 O LORD, how manifold [countless; beyond the grasp of the imagination] are thy works! in wisdom [creation is the fruit of divine wisdom] hast thou made them all [all of God’s creation]: the earth is full of thy riches [possessions (including all the creatures of the earth)].

104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

104:26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan [a mighty creature (perhaps a whale)], whom thou hast made to play therein.

104:27 These [all God’s creatures] wait [a description of dependence rather than inactivity] all upon thee [creation owes its existence to God and is sustained by Him]; that thou mayest give them their meat [cf. Matt. 6:26] in due season [refers to a seasonal food chain].

104:28 [note six actions of God toward His creatures…] [1] That thou givest them they gather: [2] thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good [God is the source of all good things].

104:29 [3] Thou hidest thy face [speaks of times when God seems absent], they are troubled [burdened or dismayed as a result of God’s hiddenness]: [4] thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust [cf. Gen. 3:19].

104:30 [5] Thou sendest forth thy spirit [breath; cf. Gen. 2:7], they are created [an action unique to God only]: [6] and thou renewest the face of the earth.

104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.