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Sunday School Lesson
The Lord’s Care Is The
Source Of Our Joy (Psalm 104)
This lesson is a poetic sum- mary of God’s creation of the world as found in the first chapter of Genesis. What God created each day is mentioned by the psalmist as a reason to praise God.
As we have learned this month, many of the psalms celebrate God as Creator over his creation. Psalm 104 can be added to that list. In fact, as Book IV (90–106) of Psalms ends, this theme of celebrat- ing God as Creator (and Re- deemer) is strong. Psalms 103 and 106 celebrate God’s forgiveness and love. Psalms
104 and 105 celebrate his creation and his faithfulness
God is clothed with splen- dor and majesty and the Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment. God the Father is spirit (John 4:24) and therefore is not like a human being getting dressed
The Creator is involved in creation as a builder. He stretches out the heavens like a tent. Think about someone going camping and setting out on the ground everything for the camping experience be- fore assembling the tent. God does that with the heavens (Genesis 1:8; 2 Corinthi- ans 12:2). Also he lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. It is as if God pounds huge concrete but- tresses into the water so they can support the heavens.
The Creator is also involved in his creation as one who controls the wind. In fact, he makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. Since the word Spirit (as in Holy Spirit) means breath, wind, or something pulsating, God can use clouds as a means of transportation and battle (2 Kings 2:11). He
can appoint winds to become messengers and flames of fire to be his servants (see also Acts 2:1-4). God is not dis- tant from his creation. He transcends creation, but works in it.
Creation Bears Witness to the Creator Psalm 104:24-30
God calls to his creation, and his creation responds with obedience. Some of the verses deal with God actually calling creation into being (vv. 5, 8, 9, 19, 20), and some of the verses deal with God sustaining the universe by his providence (vv. 10-18).
But beginning in this third section the psalmist calls crea- tures to the witness stand on behalf of their Creator. The word translated creatures in verse 24 comes from a He- brew word meaning “to ac- quire something” (as in, God owns these creatures). The word translated creatures in verse 25 comes from a He- brew word that means “some- thing that creeps along the ground.” So whether the crea- tureisintheseaoronthe
land, it bears witness to its Creator.
The word for God’s creativ- ity in making sea and land creatures is called works. It highlights something made, done, or accomplished. First the psalmist acknowledged the sea creatures. The ocean home God made for them is huge. This home is so vast and spacious that ships can sail on it and creatures like Leviathan can play in it. This is a fasci- nating creature. The word Leviathan appears six times in the Old Testament and refers to a sea monster or some kind of large aquatic animal.
The psalmist also acknowl- edged land animals. God feeds these animals and they gather it up. God opens his hand and satisfies them with good things. When God, for what- ever reason, hides his face, they are terrified. God can allow them to die and return to the dust. It all depends on God’s Spirit.
When the Spirit moves, cre- ation responds to its Creator. We would do well to follow that lead.
to it.
The Creator Works in His Creation
Psalm 104:1-4
The psalmist (who likely could have been King David, since he wrote the previous psalm) once again began with Praise (literally, “bless”). He summoned up his soul for this praise as he acknowledged the greatness of God. By using the metaphors of clothing, build- ing, and nature, we see how intimate the Creator is with his creation.
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