God’s Abundant Provision
TRANSLATION
(10) You send forth springs in the valleys. They flow between the hills. (11) They provide drink to every beast of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. (12) Beside them the birds of the heavens settle down. They sing among the branches. (13) He waters the mountains from his roof chambers. The earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. (14) He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, plants for humans to cultivate to bring forth food from the earth, (15) and wine that gladdens the heart of man and oil that makes his face shine and food that sustains his heart. (16) The trees of Yahweh are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted. (17) There the birds make their nests. The stork (makes) her home in the fir trees. (18) The high mountains (are) for the wild goats. The crags (are) a refuge for the rock badgers.
OBSERVATIONS
Repeated phrases and words in this segment included “the heart of man,” (twice in vs. 15), “mountains” (vss. 13 & 18), and “earth” (vss. 13 & 14). Short, pithy sentences in this portion of the psalm effectively portray Yahweh’s abundant provision of water, food, and shelter for his creation.
OUTLINE
I. Yahweh sustains the earth with water. (10-13)
II. Yahweh fills the earth with both flora and fauna. (14-18)
IDEA STATEMENT
Yahweh’s abundant provision for sustaining his creation remain evident throughout the earth.
APPLICATION
The same truths evident in this segment of Psalm 104 found expression in the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34).
Jesus’ point is not difficult to grasp. If God so abundantly sustains his creation, will he not take care of his own children whom he has made in his image and whom he dearly loves? We have no basis for worry if we are convinced that God is a gracious and compassionate provider for every need that we have.