Ps. 104:0 THE ARGUMENT. As the next foregoing Psalm treats of the special favours of God to his church and people, so this declares and celebrates the wonderful and gracious works of God to all mankind in the creation of this visible world, and in the wise and powerful disposition of all things…

Thou art very great, as in thy own nature and perfections, so also in the glory of thy works. Clothed; surrounded and adorned. With honour and majesty; with honourable majesty.

Coverest, or adornest, or clothest. With light; either, 1. With that light which no man can approach unto, as it is called 1 Tim. 6:16, wherewith therefore he may well be said to be covered or hid from the eyes of mortal men. Or rather, 2. With that first-created light, Gen.

In the waters; in the waters above the heavens, as they are called, Gen. 1:7; or, in the clouds, as it is explained in the next clause, in which he many times resides and rides, and manifests his presence. Who manageth and employeth the clouds and winds in his service.

Who maketh his angels spirits, i.e. of a spiritual or incorporeal nature, that they might be fitter for their employments. Or, who maketh his angels winds, as this last word most commonly signifies, i.e. who made them like the winds, powerful, and active, and nimble in executing God’s pleasure.

He hath founded or established the earth upon its own basis or foundations, i.e. upon itself, or its own weight, whereby it stands as fast and unmovable, as if it were built upon the strongest foundations imaginable; which is a stupendous work of Divine power and wisdom.

Thou coveredst it with the deep; either, 1. In the general deluge. Or rather, 2. In the first creation, as we read, Gen. 1:2, Gen. 1:9; of which the psalmist is here speaking.

At thy rebuke; upon thy severe command, Gen. 1:9; which he calls a rebuke, to imply that there was something in that state of things which might seem to need reproof and correction, even that confusion of earth and water together, which therefore God amended in his second day’s work.

In that first division of the waters from the earth, some part of them by God’s command, contrary to their own nature, went upwards, and became springs in the mountains, and the greatest part went downwards to the channels made for them.

A bound; even the sand of the sea-shore, as it is expressed, Jer. 5:22, which, though in itself contemptible, and a very poor defence to the earth against that swelling and raging element, yet by God’s almighty power and gracious providence is made sufficient for that purpose; which is noted as a…

The springs, and the rivers which come from them. The hills; wherewith God hath shut in the rivers where he saw fit, that they might not overflow the land.

Which he mentions, partly because they are dry and thirsty creatures; and partly because they live in dry and desolate wildernesses, and are neither ruled nor regarded by men, and are most stupid creatures, and yet are plentifully provided for by the care and bounty of Divine Providence.

By them; either upon the waters, where many fowls have their common abode; or in the ground nigh unto them; or in the trees, which commonly grow by the banks of rivers. Which sing among the branches; which, being delighted and refreshed by the waters, send forth their pleasant notes.

He watereth the hills; which most need moisture, and have least of it in them. From his chambers; from the clouds, as above, Ps. 104:3. The earth is satisfied; by this means all the parts of the earth, the mountains as well as the valleys, are made fruitful.

Herb for the service of man; both for delight, and for necessity, either as food or physic. And this God doth; he watereth the earth, that thereby it may be prepared or disposed for the production of necessary provisions for beasts and for men, that so he (to wit, God) may bring forth food out of…

Wine; he also bringeth out of the earth the vines which yield wine. Oil to make his face to shine: he alludes to the custom of those times and places, which was upon solemn and festival occasions to anoint their faces with oil. See Ps. 23:5.

The trees of the Lord, i.e. which the Lord hath planted, as the next clause expounds this; which came up and grew. and thrive not by man’s art and industry, but merely by the care of God’s providence. Are full of sap, Heb.

The stork; which make their nests not only in the tops of houses, but also in the field and in high trees, as Varro and others have noted. The fir trees; which also are trees of great height and bigness; and which, being here said to afford the storks a house, are thereby supposed to be preserved…

So he passeth from the rain to other works of God’s providence, as that God hath made suitable and sufficient provision for the security of these creatures against their persecutors.

For seasons; to measure and distinguish the times, both months, and, amongst many nations, years also; as also the seasons of divers natural events, as of the ebbing and flowing of the waters, and of the humours in man’s body; and other seasons for sacred and civil affairs, which were commonly…

Darkness; which succeeds the light by virtue of thy decree and established order. Creep forth, to look out for prey, which in the day time they dare not do for fear of men.

The young lions; which can no more subsist without Divine Providence than those which are most old and decrepit. Roar after their prey; they roar when they come within sight and reach of their prey, as naturalists observe; whereby this place may be reconciled with Amos 3:4.

Or rather, they retire or betake themselves; for the lions do not commonly go in companies to one place, but severally, each to his own den.

With security and confidence, knowing the nature and custom of wild beasts, that they hide themselves by day.

Of excellent and comfortable things, which are the effects of thy bounty and power.

Creeping: this word is common to all creatures that move without feet, touching with their belly the element in which they move, whether they creep upon the earth or swim in the sea.

That leviathan; either the whale or the crocodile; of which See Poole “Job 40:1”, See Poole “Job 41:1”; who being of such vast strength and absolute dominion in the sea, tumbles in it with great security, and sports himself with other creatures, which he taketh and devoureth at his pleasure.

These all, both beasts and fishes, wait upon thee, expect supplies only from thy providence; which is said of them figuratively, and with an allusion to the manner of tame beasts and fowls, which commonly look after and wait upon those persons who bring their food to them.

Whatsoever they receive is from thy bounty and gift. Thou openest thine hand; thou providest plentifully for them; as this phrase implies, Deut. 15:1, Prov. 31:20.

Thou hidest thy face, when thou withdrawest or suspendest the favour and care of thy providence. Troubled; dejected and distressed. Takest away; so this word is used, Hos. 4:3, Zeph. 1:2, and elsewhere. To their dust; to the earth, from whence they had their first original.

Thy spirit; either, 1. That spirit by which they live, which is called the spirit of a beast, Eccles. 3:21, which is called their breath or spirit, (for the word is the same there and here,) Ps. 104:29, and here may be called God’s spirit, because it was given and preserved by him. Or rather, 2.

So the sense is, Thus God doth and will advance the glory of his wisdom, and power, and goodness in upholding and continuing the works of his hands from generation to generation, and he doth and will take pleasure both in the preservation and blessing of his works, as also in his reflection upon…

This is a further illustration of God’s powerful providence over all the creatures, and their dependence upon him; as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so one the contrary one angry look or touch of his upon the hills or earth makes them tremble and smoke, as once Sinai…

But whatsoever others do, I will not fail to give God his glory and due praises.

My meditation; or, my speech, or discourse; my praising of God, mentioned Ps. 104:33. Of him; concerning the glory of his works. Shall be sweet; either, 1. To God; he will graciously accept it; praise being his most acceptable sacrifice, as is affirmed, Ps. 69:30–31. Or rather, 2.

But as for those ungodly creatures who do not regard the works of the Lord, which is noted as a most grievous sin, and punished with a grievous imprecation, like this, Ps.