“I will sing unto the Lord as long as Iive: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 104:33
Dear Ones:
The psalms are to a great extent, songs…songs which are sung in praise and worship of God, or of the experience of men before God, born in the great and eternal realities of life. Psalm 104 is a song of praise, blessing, and worship of God. The psalmist begins with the God of HIS soul, HIS Lord, hidden, and yet manifesting the greatness of His wisdom and goodness in creation. He embraces the concept of the Almighty power of God, as the very prelude to the revelation of God in, and throughout the whole of His creation. So, how does this song-writer begin his song, and what does he mention specifically in the song, to worship God?
As in the first verse of the Bible, “…In the beginning was God…,” so the psalmist begins with God, then proceeds to His creation. But in beginning with God, he begins also with the personableness of God, “…O Lord MY God, thou art very great.” (v.1) The psalm is a personal, individual tribute and blessing, written to the psalmist’s Creator, and Sustainer in life. He goes on to describe God as being “very great,” clothed with honor and majesty, who stretches out the heavens, having laid the foundation of the earth, and created everything on earth with His blessing and goodness. He goes on to specifically mention those elements of the creation that are “good,” the product of the wisdom of God: springs sent into the valleys, giving drink to the living creatures of His creation, watering the hills, making grass to grow, and providing wonderfully for man, bringing forth food out of the earth. He speaks of trees that are full of sap, the provision of the trees as a refuge and home for birds, even providing the “high hills” as a lodging place for the wild goats, and badgers. After specifically mentioning all of these individual blessings, and revelations, of the wisdom and goodness of God, he declares: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches.” (v.24)
In the days of Isaiah, in the context of the dominant and ruthless Assyrian empire, there was the proclamation from heaven in Isaiah’s vision: “…the whole earth is FULL of His (God’s) glory.” (Is. 6:3) As it was in Isaiah’s day, in spite of sinful man and his influence, so it was in the day of the Psalmist, “…the earth was full of the glory of the Lord.” It is the same today.
So, what is the value of a psalm, a song, concerning this personable God, maker of us all? It is this: the song is a joyful aspiration of faith, a melodious proclamation of the wonder and greatness of a God who is absolutely good and wise. It is also a means for revealing to men the reason for which faith, and trust, is to be in God. The very bedrock for the enduring worth and blessing, communicated by this psalm, and the others also, is found in this declaration: “The glory of the Lord shall endure FOREVER: the Lord shall rejoice in His works.” (v.31) His eternal goodness and wisdom, and power, are so revealed in His creation, and the specific revelation of His attributes of nature, are given to us that we should intelligently worship, sing, and meditate on Him. Here lies a key to loving God, remembering who He is, what He has done, and what His purpose is for us on this earth. So, may we trust Him to put a song in our hearts, and this every day.
Dear Father, teach us to sing Your praise, worship you with the singing, declaring Thy wisdom and goodness. May our meditation of Thee be ever sweet (v.34), and may we ever rejoice and be glad in You, whose glory FILLS the earth. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad