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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2015 May 16



Fisherwomen by the Shore (1883)
Georg Anton Rasmussen (1842-1914)
Romanticism Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Psalm 104 the Psalmist offers a Psalm of blessing which is similar to the previous Psalm. It begins and ends with blessings upon the name of the LORD and gives detailed descriptions of the glories of the LORD which he manifests in the heavens, the earth, and the sea. Today's painting offers a blended view of the whole of creation, as does today's Psalm.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 103. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 104 - #1 - Part 1. Psalm 104 - #1 - Part 2. Psalm 104 - #2. Psalm 104 - #3. Psalm 104 - #4. Psalm 104 - #5. Psalm 104 - #6. Psalm 104 - #7. ]

     The Psalmist blesses the LORD for his greatness (excellence), his honor (grandeur), and his majesty (magnificence). He covers himself with light and stretches out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he walks upon the wings of the wind. He makes his angels spirits of flaming fire (1-4). He laid the foundations of the earth, making it immovable. He covers the ocean as with a garment. Its waters stood above the mountains, but at his rebuke they fled from the voice of his thunder. They went up over the mountains. But (when God rebuked them) they went down through the valleys to the place which he appointed for them. He set a boundary for them beyond which they cannot pass to cover the earth again (5-9). He sends springs into the valleys which run among the hills and refresh the beasts. The fowls have their habitation near the streams; and they sing in the branches of the nearby trees. He waters the hills; and the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works. He gives grass for the cattle and herbs for man. He blesses man with wine, and (olive) oil, and bread. The trees of the LORD (the cedars of Lebanon) are mighty. The birds nest in them; and the stork nests in the fir trees. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the rock hyrax (10-18). He appointed the moon for seasons. He causes the sun to set. He makes darkness into which the beasts of the forest creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey; and they seek their food form God. The sun arises, and the beasts return to their dens; and man goes forth to labor until the evening (19-23). And, having contemplated these things, the Psalmist praises the LORD for his manifold works, for the wisdom with which he made them, and for the riches with which he fills the earth. The LORD also made the sea which is filled with innumerable creatures, small and great. Therein go the ships; Leviathan is there. And all of these wait upon the LORD to give them their food in due season (24-27). They gather and are filled. God hides his face, and they are troubled. He takes away their breath; and they die and return to dust. God sends forth his spirit, and they are created, and God renews the face of the earth (28-30). The glory of the LORD shall endure forever; and the LORD will rejoice in his works. He looks upon the earth; and it trembles; he touches the hills and they smoke (31-32). The Psalmist, in light of these tings, says that he will sing to the LORD as long as he lives; he will sing praises while he has his being. His meditation of him will be sweet. And he will be glad in the LORD. But, says the Psalmist, let sinners be consumed out of the earth; and let the wicked be no more. And he closes with the words "Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD." (33-35).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK FOUR OF FIVE:

Psalms 90-106.


Psalm 104


1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]





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