God Is Sovereign (Psalm 104)
Psalm 104 is our passage this morning.
God, as Creator and Sustainer is deserving of our praise. Our praise will flow even more fully as we understand not just His creational power and wisdom but also his sustaining delight in all aspects of creation. He is a good and gracious God who provides for his plants and his creatures; wild animals, tame animals, and us. We are completely dependent on Him. There is a future day when evil will be forever removed from His Creation.
Let’s pray.
I am going to read a quote John Piper from his book Providence, “I used to look at sunrises when I was jogging and think that God has created a beautiful world. Then it became less general and more specific, more personal. I said, “Every morning God paints a different sunrise.” He never gets tired of doing it again and again. But then it struck me. No, he doesn’t do it again and again. He never stops doing it. The sun is always rising somewhere in the world. God guides the sun twenty-four hours every day and paints sunrises at every moment, century after century without one second of respite, and never grows weary or less thrilled with the work of his hands. Even when cloud cover keeps man from seeing it, God is painting spectacular sunrises above the clouds.”
My desire today is to help us move from a puny evolutionary or theoretical science-based view of creation to a better comprehension of God’s majesty – his great power, and Providence. – sovereignly applied wisdom as he sustains creation.
Let’s read Psalm 104.
I want to take us through a thematic study of the Psalm to focus on the aspects of God as presented. You will notice the outline on the back of your bulletins. There are many ways to walk through this Psalm, from days of creation to nested chiasms. Scholars believe that it was written by David given its similarity to Psalm 103. We will go through it to focus on multiple themes.
First,
God is to be Praised (v 1a)
God is Great in His Creation (Vs. 1b-9, 19-20, 24-26)
God is Good and Delights in Sustaining (Vs. 10-18, 21-23, 27-29, 30-31)
God is Just (vs. 104:32-35)
First, we have God is to be Praised. He deserves all praise.
God is to be Praised (v 1a)
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise precedes petition. – Jesus gave us examples of this in the Matthew 11:25 – “I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth”. Also, the Lord’s Prayer, starts with “our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy) be your name” It shows deep reverence. The psalmist recognizes that he is coming before God who is great and glorious. It blends boldness of faith with holy fear and reverence.
So keep this praise in mind as we look at how
God is Great in His Creation (Vs. 1b-9, 19-20, 24-26)
O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
The psalmist calls God—not the cosmos—"very great." While many are tempted to worship creation, the eyes of faith see the Creator, who stands outside of time and above His handiwork.
God is clothed; clothing both reveals and conceals. While creation reveals His skill, goodness, and power, His majesty specifically declares His sovereignty.
David prayed: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all..." (1 Chronicles 29:11-13) God is in full control.
The psalmist describes God as "covering yourself with light." Similarly, Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 that God "dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see." This cloak of light signifies His absolute holiness and separation from sin
So, we like the psalmist, should approach God with a deep reverence for this holiness and majesty.
Next, God "stretches out the heavens like a tent" (or "tent curtain," as the NET bible translates it). Hebrews 1:10-12 echoes this, "like a robe you will roll them up." Both writers praise God for His effortless control over the vast heavens. Even a small child can open and close a tent flap – God’s power over creation is infinite.
The psalmist writes that God "lays the beams of his chambers on the waters." Amos describes it as, “The Lord God of hosts, … who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—the Lord is his name.”
Both use Hebrew poetic imagery. In ancient Israel, homes had two levels: the lower for animals, and the upper for living and resting. The psalmist pictures God residing above the clouds, with the wind and weather under His direct command. The psalmist boldly affirms that Yahweh alone controls the elements.
Finally, the reference to winds and flaming fire points to the angelic host, affirming God’s sovereignty over them. Hebrews 1:7 quotes this verse regarding angels, before exalting the Son in verses 8 and 9, whose throne is forever and ever. Under God’s supreme rule, both the physical elements and the spiritual hosts are His to use as He pleases.
5 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
In Job 38:4, God challenges Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”
The phrase "never be moved" means the earth cannot be toppled.
Think about the earth's motion. The psalmist poetically writes that God set the earth on secure foundations. For thousands of years, it has spun flawlessly. While we experience local earthquakes, the cosmic gears never grind or lurch. We never worry if the earth will slow down tomorrow or if the sunrise will be late. Right now, in Rosemount, MN, we are rotating at 725 mph and orbiting at 67,000 mph. This is no cosmic accident. God, in His perfect wisdom, established the earth’s foundations and actively maintains them today.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
7At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder (or thunderous voice NET) they took to flight or hurried off. NET)
8The mountains rose; the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.
9You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.
Originally, a boundless primordial sea covered the entire earth, concealing the mountains and valleys. But at God’s thunderous rebuke, the waters retreated and the dry land emerged. The ocean waves are powerful and intimidating.
Scripture consistently highlights this divine boundary-setting. In Genesis 1:9, God commanded:
"Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place and let the dry land appear."
In Job (38:8-11), God asks who shut in the sea with doors and decreed:
"Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed.
Jesus proved He was this sovereign Creator by calming a violent storm in Mark 4(:39-41). He rebuked the winds and waves, "Peace! Be still!" the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
The disciples asked in awe, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
This instant, glassy stillness was truly a creational miracle. This is a beautiful picture of God's active, ongoing involvement in every single corner of His creation.
The powerful voice of the Lord did this! Is His power not sufficient for whatever storm you are passing through today?
Let’s continue with the outline of God’s Greatness in Creation, let’s drop down to verses 19 and 20 -
19He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.
20You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
The Jewish calendar was based on moon phases. Every month began with a new moon; festivals started on the full moon. The years were based on the sun. We will sometimes check our watches this time of year wondering what time it is because the sun seems to be waiting to set.
The long days are welcome, but we do want darkness for sleep. It is God who makes the darkness. It is during the darkness that God feeds the wild beasts.
Continuing with God’s greatness and wisdom, let’s go to verses 24-26:
24O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
25Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
26There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
Scientists estimate there are 8.7 million species on Earth. They have formally cataloged only 1.2 million—less than 15% of the total. Yet, God created every single one by the power of His word.
To the Psalmist, the sea was simply vast and wide. If you dropped Mount Everest into the deepest part of the ocean, it would be covered by more than a mile of water
Yet, even in ancient times, Israel caught glimpses of the diversity of creatures; 2 Chronicles notes that Solomon’s trading ships returned with apes and peacocks. Mariners apparently returned with stories of the “Leviathan"—likely referring to massive whales breaching and playing.
How amazing that countless creatures exist almost entirely for God’s own eyes and pleasure! Our hearts cry out, “Bless the Lord, Oh my soul” in response.
Is it becoming even more amazing that this all-powerful God cares and provides for us?
Let’s move from Creation – to God’s care for Creation by talking about
God is Good and Delights in Sustaining (Vs. 10-18, 21-23, 27-29, 30-31)
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;
11they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.
This section speaks of God’s providence which is his sovereignty carried out with a purpose. It is his wisdom applied through sovereignty. Providence is God working all things according to his will, and he has every right to do so, for he is sovereign.
When we enjoy a beautiful waterfall or mountain stream, we should rejoice, knowing God ordered it to be there. Every single water molecule is under His absolute control. Even in storms, the water flows per his command.
God’s voice commands the water gushing through it to sustain wild animals. Countless streams are flowing today with no benefit to humanity. These streams exist for the wild beasts which includes the untamable wild donkey.
God uses this creature to challenge Job's wisdom:
"Who has let the wild donkey go free?... I have given the arid plain for his home..." (Job 39:5-8) God sustains and controls the wild donkey that even the best farmers could never tame.
Consider Jesus in the wilderness after His baptism. While He fasted for forty days among the wild beasts, He was actively providing food for the very animals surrounding Him! What a profound picture of God's goodness.
Jesus highlights this divine care in Matthew 6:26:
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap... yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
Do you see God’s daily provision as an amazing blessing because He delights in you? Or do you struggle in fear and anxiety, worrying that something outside your control will ruin your plans?
13From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he (man) may bring forth food from the earth
15and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
The mountain peaks receive the moisture God sends from heaven. Every drop of rain, snow, or ice is ordered by Him to fall exactly where it is supposed to.
He actively causes the grass to grow. We must look past the physics—God makes it happen. While we cultivate gardens, He alone causes the growth. We remember Jonah: God caused the plant to grow, and God commanded a worm to destroy it. It is all in His hands. Do you ever have plans that appear to be developing just perfectly, and then suddenly circumstances change and the plans fall apart? In those times do you say, do I say, Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul!
Unlike wild animals that merely gather, we are made in God's image to cultivate and create. Amazingly, the very dust to which we may return is the dust God uses to bring forth our food.
God’s goodness provides far beyond bare survival. In Deuteronomy 7:12-13, He promised to bless obedient Israel with “your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds.”
He gives us wine, oil, and food to gladden our hearts and give us strength. He could have made everything taste like liver!
Even a cursed earth produces a variety that proves He is the generous source of all things.
16The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.
18The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
God cares for the trees He planted—how much more does He care for us? Jesus used the beauty of the lilies to show that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If you drive through western North Dakota at the right time of year, the grasslands are breathtaking. Yet, if God so beautifully clothes the grass, which is alive today and thrown into the oven tomorrow, how much more will He clothe and provide for you?
This intentional design is everywhere. Storks nest in the trees perfectly suited for them, while high mountains are made for wild goats. God engineered these goats for the cliffs, equipping their hooves with hard outer edges and soft, suction-like centers to scale near-vertical walls with ease.
Rock badgers—maybe like the Rocky Mountain pie-kas and marmots that live above the tree line—rely on God's design. You will hear their warning whistles long before you see them scurry into rock crevices for safety. God placed them there, knowing exactly how they would survive. Those rocky cracks are designed to be just big enough for them, but too small for a hawk or fox.
If God cares for the wild goat and the rock badger in such a complete manner, are you not of far more value to Him?
Let’s drop down to verses 21-23. We covered 19 and 20 as part of God’s greatness.
21The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
22When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.
23Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.
Young lions roar for prey, but God provides it. At sunrise, wild beasts retreat to their dens as man goes out to labor. We are designed to work; it is a privilege to serve the Lord through our daily tasks. The earth is not a place of scarcity, but an abundant masterpiece whose fullness only God sees, providing for every creature, even each of us, exactly as He sees fit.
30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
In Genesis 1:2, this same Spirit (Ruach Elohim) hovered over the waters. When God withholds His breath, creatures die; when He sends it, new life is created. God did not simply wind-up creation, set it in motion and walk away. He remains actively engaged, sustaining and creating life and driving all things toward His desired end.
Now let’s look at verses 27-29 and 31 to see
Evidence of God’s Delight in Creation vs. 27-29, 31
27These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.
28When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
Every created being, from the largest to the smallest, depends entirely on God.
In Proverbs 6(:6-8), the sluggard is directed to the humble ant as a model of diligence:
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways... she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."
By opening His hand, God pours out His common grace on a fallen world. As Psalm 145:9 states, "The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."
But when God hides His face, the earth is terrified. We have recently heard of the tragic loss of thousands in the recent Venezuelan earthquakes. Yet, we rest in His sovereignty.
Job 34(:14-15) warns: "If he should... gather to himself his spirit and breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust." God delights in His creation, and He alone holds the number of our days.
All this results in the Psalmist turning to God and singing in verse 31,
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works,
The glory of the Lord endures, and creation awaits a future renewal. God possesses supreme beauty, majesty, and moral perfection—His glory is the visible manifestation of His presence, goodness, and grace. The psalmist rejoices in creation, anticipating that the Lord does as well
This psalm reminds us that God is our Sustainer who delights in His creation. By His mercy, we are not consumed. As we grow in our understanding of Him and His bountiful blessings, our rejoicing will grow.
Now we come to the fact that
God is Just (vs. 104:32-35)
God is just, he is providentially moving history forward to his desired and appointed goal.
32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!
God’s power is so immense that a mere look makes the earth tremble, and a touch makes mountains smoke. At Mount Sinai, God's presence was such that Moses was commanded to fence off the mountain and people trembled with fear.
In 1980, I watched Mount St. Helens tremble and spew ash 60,000 feet into the air. That massive display of energy came from God touching just one mountain. God planned and executed it to advance His purposes on earth.
The psalmist’s response then are verses 33 and 34:
33I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
This should be our response as well.
Rejoicing in God’s sovereignty moves the psalmist to vow praise for as long as he lives—a song we will sing for eternity. When the psalmist cries, “my God,” he claims a personal relationship with the all-powerful Creator. We who know Jesus as Savior share this relationship. Our challenge is to live reflecting confidence in His delight.
If we desire to rejoice in God, our thoughts must center on Him. Too often, we focus on ourselves or circumstances. By meditating on God through His Word, our joy will naturally deepen as we get to know Him more.
Now we come to an important verse regarding God’s justice – verse 35
35Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more!
God is sovereign over His creation. This means that he is also sovereign over humanity. This sovereignty is assured regardless of whether someone is agnostic, atheist, or in open rebellion against God.
God’s chosen people, Israel, rebelled against God. God through his prophets announced judgments on them and used His Creation to perform it.
Does this truth startle you? Humans are the only part of creation that can consciously withhold praise from God. As you hear of His power, beauty, and grace, does praise well up in your heart, or do you recoil in fear? Do you reject a sovereign God who will one day purge sin from the earth? Or can you, like the psalmist, cry, “My God”?
If you cannot, He is near and ready to save. God can replace your heart of stone and make you a new creation in Christ. Look to Him as your substitute and pray that He works in your heart to bring about salvation.
While indwelling sin limits our worship today, a day is coming when we will receive our resurrection bodies and praise Him perfectly. We look forward to that future day when the redeemed will finally rejoice and worship as we were made to do.
Now we come to the final praise of this psalm:
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord! [1]
This last phrase, “Praise the Lord,” is the first time "Hallelujah" appears in the Bible—and what a perfect place for it. Let us resolve to keep our meditations centered on blessing the Lord, looking forward to the day He once again declares His creation "very good."
The author of Hebrews wrote:
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." (Hebrews 13:6)
Think of the scale of this trust. If the God who keeps us safely flying through space at 67,000 miles per hour is the same God who knows when a sparrow dies and designs safety for the little rock badger, how can we let sinful anxiety rule our hearts tomorrow? The terrifying, mountain-shaking voice of Sinai is the very same voice that rebuked and brought peace to the raging sea. He cried, 'It is finished' on the cross for you.
He is not a distant clockmaker. He is your active Sustainer, your Redeemer, and your very life.
This week, remember your all-powerful Creator. If doubt or anxiety creeps in, meditate on His greatness and declare with Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" The sovereign God who controls the sun and feeds every wild creature is actively working in your life.
The psalm ends exactly where it began: "Bless the Lord, O my soul!” and adding a final "Hallelujah!" May this be the song of our hearts.
Let's pray.