Psalms 104 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

CIV. The Glory of the Creator.

Psalms 104:1-4. Yahweh's power in the heavens. He is clothed in the light which God made first (Genesis 1:3) before the heavenly bodies. He lays the foundation of His dwelling in the waters above the firmament (Genesis 1:7 *). Thence He issues from time to time in person riding on the clouds (Isaiah 19:1), or else sends His message by wind or flame.

Psalms 104:5-9. Separation of land and sea.

Psalms 104:10-18. God's care for man and beast.

Psalms 104:13 b. The emendation, The earth is satisfied from thy clouds, i.e. with the rain which falls from them, implies the use of a word for clouds which means vapours rather than actual rain.

Psalms 104:14. service of man: rather, for man's work, i.e. in tilling the ground and so raising grain.

Psalms 104:16. The cedars of Lebanon are so great that only God could have planted them.

Psalms 104:18. conies: Proverbs 30:26 *.

Psalms 104:19-23. The night.

Psalms 104:19. for seasons: especially holy seasons such as Passover, etc.

Psalms 104:24-30. The poet begins with the sea and passes to the thought of God as giving and renewing all life.

Psalms 104:26. Read perhaps, There go the dragons. This preserves the parallelism. leviathan: a mythical sea monster (see Job 40:24 to Job 41:34) with features borrowed from the crocodile and the whale.

Psalms 104:31-35. Ascription of glory to God who Himself rejoices in His works.