O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
-From the sun and moon, the highest of the visible manifestations of God's omnipotence and love, the transition is made to the deepest-namely, the sea. The work of the fifth day of creation is here alluded to; but the Psalmist refers not so much to the formation of the fish and the birds on that day as he does to the preparation of the sea for its countless inhabitants, and for man's use in navigation. He already has treated of God's care of birds.
Verse 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! - thy manifold arrangements for the well being of thy creatures, according to their several needs and organizations: each finds his sphere of existence and his means of subsistence.
The earth is full of thy riches literally 'thy possessions;' these thou keepest not to thyself but blessest thy The earth is full of thy riches - literally, 'thy possessions;' these thou keepest not to thyself, but blessest thy creatures with.
Verse 25. (So is) this great and wide sea. - rather, supply the ellipsis, 'This the sea (is an instance of thy works made in wisdom, Psalms 104:24), great and wide (on) both hands' (so the Hebrew, yadaim); extending widely on both sides.
Wherein (are) things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts - (Genesis 1:21; Psalms 69:34.)
Verse 26. There go the ships - as living beings: personification (Genesis 49:13). This points out what a gracious provision for man the sea has been made by God.
There is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein - the ship-like representative of the animal kingdom in the sea (cf. note, Psalms 74:14); as the ships represent man's interests. He plays therein with unrestricted liberty, as in his vast element (Job 40:20).