#DailyDevotion Give Praise To The LORD, The Creator
Psalm 104 29You hide Your face — they are terrified; You take away their breath — they die and turn again to dust. 30You send out Your Breath — they are created; You make new the surface of the ground.
What a contrast from the previous verses where the LORD opened His hand and the creatures are satisfied. Here the psalmist contemplates the LORD hiding His face from His creatures. When He does, they are terrified. I’m not sure what an animal has to do to have the LORD hide His face from them. It does seem more of what happens to man when man knowingly sins against the LORD and the Holy Spirit departs from him.
The LORD takes breath away from His creatures and they die and return to dust. On the one hand, it is scary the LORD brings about our deaths. On the other hand, I find it somewhat comforting to know I’m not going anywhere until the LORD determines my time is up. Your attitude about this may vary.
The LORD also sends His breath upon the earth and creatures are created. He brings everything to life. We love looking at new life whether it is a child, or chicks, or even tadpoles. New life is a marvelous and wondrous thing.
31May the LORD’s glory go on forever, and the Lord be delighted with what He made.
An interesting blessing to say the least. The LORD’s glory will go on forever without our blessing. Nevertheless, we are called to participate in it. The second half seems more of a blessing. We certainly want the LORD to be delighted with what He made. That’s the opposite of what was reported before the Flood. As He is delighted in it, He continues to provide for it, to increase it and to perpetuate it.
32He looks at the earth and it trembles; He touches the mountains and they smoke.
An allusion to when the LORD descended upon Mt. Sinai and appeared before the Israelites. We may take it or contemplate it when there are earthquakes and volcanoes going off. Not necessarily the LORD is looking at the earth or touching it during these times. Of course, it doesn’t mean He isn’t either.
33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live and make music to my God as long as I exist. 34May my meditation please Him – I will delight in the LORD.
This is the attitude of someone who fears, loves and trusts in the LORD. He sings to the LORD, even if somewhat badly. We may not all play musical instruments. That is ok. When we contemplate all the LORD has made, we make music in our hearts. We marvel and we wonder. The psalmist desires this meditation on creation pleases the LORD. When we credit the LORD with creation and sustaining it. It is a good meditation.
35May sinners vanish from the world and the wicked be no more! My soul, bless the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Indeed, should we all look to the day when we are no longer sinners and only saints. Would that everyone would repent of their sins and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ. If they don’t, well that isn’t good for them. We close with a call to our soul to bless and praise the LORD.
O LORD, Creator God, give us a right understanding of Your creation that we may glorify and bless you for it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.