"Your homework is to read Psalm 104 and reflect on it."
I love Bible College. I love moments like this.
This really is a beautiful Psalm. It celebrates the wonderful creative and sustaining power of Yahweh.
It uses beautiful poetic language to describe the ease with which Yahweh made the world. Just as we can flick up a bed sheet to billow in the air, so Yahweh spread out the sky. Just as we cover ourselves with clothes, so Yahweh clothed the earth with water. He is in control. It is not hard work for him, but is like child's play.
Furthermore, he did not just create things and let them run their course. He continues to sustain and uphold them. He provides food (v14). Not only that, but he doesn't just supply the food we need, he also supplies abundance and niceness. He supplies things to make our hearts glad (v15).
He did not create in a mindless or uncaring way either. He made everything with wisdom (v24). I was reminded of this when studying physiology at uni. God made us in a really amazing and smart way!
The Psalmist keeps oscillating between the second and third person (you and he). I'm not quite sure they are doing that. But I wonder if he's just so amazed. He talks about the amazing things Yahweh has done and is doing, so he can't help but address him directly. Then lastly he responds in the first person. What is his response? "I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live" (v33).
And now to you: "Your homework is to read Psalm 104 and reflect on it." ;-)
I love Bible College. I love moments like this.
This really is a beautiful Psalm. It celebrates the wonderful creative and sustaining power of Yahweh.
It uses beautiful poetic language to describe the ease with which Yahweh made the world. Just as we can flick up a bed sheet to billow in the air, so Yahweh spread out the sky. Just as we cover ourselves with clothes, so Yahweh clothed the earth with water. He is in control. It is not hard work for him, but is like child's play.
Furthermore, he did not just create things and let them run their course. He continues to sustain and uphold them. He provides food (v14). Not only that, but he doesn't just supply the food we need, he also supplies abundance and niceness. He supplies things to make our hearts glad (v15).
He did not create in a mindless or uncaring way either. He made everything with wisdom (v24). I was reminded of this when studying physiology at uni. God made us in a really amazing and smart way!
The Psalmist keeps oscillating between the second and third person (you and he). I'm not quite sure they are doing that. But I wonder if he's just so amazed. He talks about the amazing things Yahweh has done and is doing, so he can't help but address him directly. Then lastly he responds in the first person. What is his response? "I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live" (v33).
And now to you: "Your homework is to read Psalm 104 and reflect on it." ;-)
abundance?
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