Homilist Psalm 104:1-35 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honor and majesty.… I. The UNIVERSALITY of God's workings in Nature. 1. In the domain of dead matter. He is operating in the waters as they sail in the clouds, come down in the showers, etc. He is operating on the crusted earth, laying its "foundations," touching its soil into verdure, and shaking it by volcanic fires. "He looketh on the earth and it trembleth," etc. 2. In the domain of living matter, (1) He works in all vegetable life — in the smallest blade as well as in the mightiest monarchs of the forest. (2) He works in all sentient life — feeds every beast of the field, etc. 3. In the domain of rational existence. God works in all moral minds, from the highest angel to the humblest soul on earth. II. The PERSONALITY of God's workings in Nature. 1. He works sublimely. If we take the telescope, we are struck with mute amazement at the vastness and splendour of the stellar systems; if we take the microscope and look at the wing of the smallest insect, or even at an atom of metallic dust, what brilliancy and perfection we discover. He paints His beauty on an insect's wing, and wheels His throne upon the rolling worlds. 2. He works incessantly. There is no pause in His exertions; He neither slumbers nor sleeps, always at work, and at work everywhere and in everything. "It takes as much life," says Emerson, "to conserve as to create the universe." 3. He works benevolently. His desire to communicate His blessedness to other beings is the philosophy of the universe. 4. He works wisely. The Great Author never revises His books, the Great Architect never alters His plans. 5. He works in nature morally. (1) The inspiring of the human soul with rapturous worship (ver. 34). There is no true happiness without true worship; and God so appears in Nature as to awaken all souls into an anthem of praise. (2) To clear from the soul all moral wrong (ver. 35). God's purpose, in all His operations on the earth as well as in the truths of His Gospel, is to make this world morally better and happier. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.WEB: Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. |
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