A Loving Creator Cares for His Creation

Psalm 104:1-34

What do you believe when you say: “I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?” And we see in the catechism several parts. We see that God is creator - the eternal father of our Lord Jesus Christ, created heaven and earth and all that in them is out of nothing. We also see that God is sustainer - he upholds and governs all things by his eternal counsel and providence. We also see our obligation - if God is our Father - not the father of everyone - but the Father of Christians; then we can trust in him completely. In our passage this evening, we see all three of these elements, which we will consider in 3 actions. Firstly, God demonstrates his greatness in his creation. Secondly, God expresses his care in his providence. Thirdly, man is obligated to trust in this great and caring God.

Firstly, God demonstrates his greatness in his creation. The bulk of this Psalm, from verses 1-30 talk about God’s creation and how his creation expresses his greatness. And in speaking about God’s creative works, the Psalmist patterned his Psalm after the creation events of Genesis 1. It’s a day by day account of what God did. We want to examine parallel. So in verse 1, he puts forth God’s greatness - “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.” Why? What did God do? I believe in God the Father, almighty maker of heavens and earth. That’s why we see, in verse 2 onwards, the various creative works of God.

Verse 2 describes the first day of creation when God created light - “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain.” This is a parallel to Genesis 1:3 - “And God said, let there be light, and there was light!” Before he created, there was nothing. There wasn’t even darkness - for there to have darkness, there has to be light. But before God created light, there was nothing. And the way that God created light was by speaking. He spoke, and the light stretched out and went forth like a curtain. Just by the words of his mouth! It wasn’t hard for God. He didn’t have to work at an anvil, hammering away to create something. He didn’t have to sit for hours at a desk to design the blueprint for the world. He just spoke, and the universe came into being. It was that easy for him. Then we see in the second day of Creation in verses 2-4, especially verse 3 - God lives above the rain clouds - “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind.” The parallel is Genesis 1:6-8. We’re told of how God created the skies. In poetic language, it describes how God split the waters - you have the sea and oceans below and you have the clouds above. And in between, you have the skies. But God himself lives beyond sky, beyond the waters above - the clouds. In fact, the Scripture tells us that his throne is beyond the sea of glass - the crystal sea - where all the angels worship him. Then the third day of Creation is alluded to in verses 5-18 - how God created land and vegetation. In verses 5-8, we see how God separated the water from land - the mountains rose and the water flowed into the valleys. Then verses 14-18 describe that God made the grass and plants for food. There’s wine from grapes, oil from olives, bread from barley, resin from trees, etc. And this is what we learn in Genesis 1:9-13 about the third day. God separated the waters from dry ground, and created all the land vegetation - “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

Then the fourth day of creation in Psalm 104:19-23 - where God created the heavenly bodies - “He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night…” This is also described in Genesis 1:16. God made 2 great lights - the sun for the day and the moon for the night. Now, a side point. This order represents a difficulty for those who want to harmonize the Bible with evolution. Why? Because vegetation existed before the sun. And we also see the fifth day of creation described in verses 24-26. God made sea creatures - “So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. there go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.” We almost see a parallel in Genesis 1:20-21, “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life…And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind.” And we see the final day of creation in verses 27-30. Man is reliant on God for life - “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.” And this is what we see in Genesis 1 and 2, we’re told that God created man in his own image - he made them out of the dust of the ground and breathed his Spirit into them. When they die, they return to dust.

But what do these things mean? They show God to be a king with a kingdom. The world is like God’s kingly attire. Light is like a garment that clothes him. He lives above the sky in a wonderful palace, whose beams and foundations are the light and clouds. His chariots are the clouds. He rides on the wings of the winds - like his airplane. The swirling winds are his messengers; the lightning or flaming fire are his servants. All of these show that God is a king. He has a palace, chariot, messengers, servants. And he has a kingdom - his universe - comprising all the sea, land, and sky creatures. He has power of judgment as a king - to give life and sentence death in punishment. And his kingdom is fruitful. God has a watering system - where waters from the mountains move to the valleys. The ancient civilization had their aqueducts and canals to move water - God has his own. That’s why the Psalmist calls them to - “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.”

And these things also compare God with the ancient false gods. In verses 19-23, he talks about the heavenly bodies. In verse 19, he describes how the moon and the sun order our time - they are appointed for seasons. For daytime, the sun rises. For nighttime, the sun sets and moon appears. And there are nocturnal animals - where the beasts of the forest come out at night, and when the sun emerges, they go back into their dens to sleep. This assertion that God was creator was important in the days it was written because other nations were worshiping the sun and moon - instead of worshiping the God that created the sun and moon. So while the pagans then and evolutionists today are in awe of nature, we are in awe of a creator that created this nature. Verse 24 says, “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” I believe in God the Father, Almighty creator of heaven and earth.

Secondly, God expresses his care in his providence. We’re told in question 26 that not only does God create all things out of nothing, he “still upholds and governs them by his eternal counsel and providence.” Now, we will study deeper into providence next week. But this Psalm does touch on God’s providence - his upholding and governing all things according to his wisdom. God doesn’t create and leave his creation alone. He’s still present, working and ruling - so that everything goes the way he has willed and desired. Verses 27-28 say, “These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.” We learn that God takes care of the animals he created by providing for them. The doctrine of God’s providence shows that God is in control of all things. He cares. He sticks around. This is different from the god of the Deists. We believe in a God that’s like a baker. After he makes the dough and pops it in the oven, he sticks around to make sure it bakes well. The god of the Deists, on the other hand, believe he’s like a watchmaker, who after making the clock and winding it up, he leaves. And the watch will wind down by itself or gets stuck - but he’s not there to watch over it.

But the doctrine of God’s providence shows that God cares. You see, animals are not unimportant to God. His creation is valuable. We learn that he cares for them and supplies their needs. But they are also not equally valuable to them. So while he created dogs and cares for them, and we love dogs and care for them, God cares for us - his chiefest creation - more than he does the dogs. While all people experience the goodness of God, he directs his care especially toward his people - he cares for his worshipers more than he cares for any other. We are told in question 26 that he is, for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father. Jesus said in Matthew 6:26 - “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Jesus, in pointing to God’s providence for the birds, points the attention of his listeners back to themselves, that God will provide for the citizens of heaven. Whenever we learn about providence, we remember that God cares for us. This tells us that God lacks no supply. While our economy is not the best, inflation is increasing, interest rates will rise in the USA maybe leading to a weakening of our currency, whether good or bad - but we must know that heaven’s economy is just fine. And if you’re valuable to God, and if God does not lack the ability to supply what you need, then you must be confident that your lack will be supplied by God in his time and in his way. If animals are dependent on God, we are no less dependent upon God than they are. The economy weakens, we struggle. The economy flourishes, it’s because of God. Farmers who rely on the seasons and water cycle are reminded at the end of the year how they were blessed by God. It wasn’t how good they were; if the rain didn’t come at the right time, they’d be ruined. It was a reminder how good God was. In short, all we have, we owe to God.

But when we think of God’s providence, we must also realize another thing. We are not only dependent on God for our supplies, we are also dependent on God for our lives. God is not a watchmaker that walks away. He is also a judge. Verses 29-30 speak about the life and death of mankind. Because we have been created in the image of God from dust, and have his spirit breathed into us; God can take it away at any time. We can perish tomorrow. “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.” Even the very life in us is ordered by God. And he cares for us until it’s time for us to leave this mortal coil.

And so, because God created us and cares for us, there’s a duty on our part. Thirdly, man is obligated to trust in this great and caring God. Question 26 also says that “In him I trust so completely as to have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul, and will also turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this life of sorrow. He is able to do so as almighty God, and willing also as a faithful Father.” Psalm 104 speaks of this obligation. The obligation is worship. Verses 33-34 say, “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” This is the worship of someone who trusts in God. Because of the greatness of God in creating us and governing us, we give worship to God. Worship to God is not a by the way. It is a priority. As long as I live. While I have being. If I have a body and mental faculties, and as long as I exist, I worship God. I will think about him and be glad. Worship is not only ascribing glory, but finding satisfaction in Christ.

Another obligation is obedience. Verse 35 says, “Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more.” And this shocks us - it seems to come out of no where. The Psalm is talking about the greatness of God - how he has created, he preserves and cares, and then his creation worship him. Then all of a sudden, sinners appear. But this is not unrelated. You see, because the Psalm has been expressing the greatness of God - that he has created and preserves - that he supplies all good things - and man is dependent on him for breath and life; therefore we are obligated not only to worship him, but also to obey him. We’re accountable to this Creator God. Creation and providence both establish in us an obligation. It’s true that those who fear God will turn to him. Psalm 119:79 says, “Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.”

But there are many who will look at Creation and Providence and reject them. They won’t turn to God, even though they’re obligated to trust him. And so, what the Bible says here is that those who refuse to be obligated by creation and providence deserve to die. Now, some will say it’s an intellectual problem - they don’t believe because they don’t see. No. The Bible says in Romans 1:20 that “since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Instead of trusting in God and repenting, they suppress the truth of his existence and their obligation to him. And Romans 1:18 says that God will show his wrath to all these. You see, it’s not an intellectual problem - that they don’t believe. It’s a moral problem. They have all the proof required. Creation itself speaks forth God’s existence, power, care, and kingship. And that obligates us to worship him and to trust and turn to him.

What applications can we draw from this Psalm when we consider the connection between creation, providence, and gospel obligation? Firstly, there must be assurance. In the days of creation, we see that God brings order out of chaos. During the first 3 days of God’s creative activity, he brought order out of the original formlessness. There was nothing - but God created light. What was empty, he filled with life. Even the seas - which are tumultuous and raging are filled with life. Even the most fearsome creature - leviathan - frolics in the seas. Such a fearsome and untamable creature finds comfort in the seas that God created. We will go through chaos in our lives - but the God who created the world, sustains it. Jesus who was on the boat with the disciples in the midst of the storm, he slept soundly. They despaired for their lives. And Jesus rebuked the storms - Peace! Be still! And the winds obeyed his command. Are we assured that God is in control of all things? Secondly, there must be dependence. Every creature here in Psalm 104 is dependent on God for life, health, and strength. It’s the Lord who provides the sun and the rain. He provides food - not randomly, but purposefully providing sustenance. If he did not cause the sun to rise or the rain to fall, we would perish. Knowing who God is, we remember our need for him. This therefore means, our humility. If in everything we depend on him, then prayer, gratefulness, and praise would characterize our lives. And to know that if he should turn his face from us, then we would tremble. Reverence of God should also characterize us. Dear believers, reverence, humility, gratefulness, praise, and dependence must characterize us. And this is especially so, when we know that God brings order to our chaos. And this is especially the case when we Christians are recreated beings - he has made us new creations. In the first, he created us physically - he gave us also a soul. But because of our sin, we did not acknowledge him alone. We were not grateful. We did not worship him. Instead we proclaimed our own independence. We did not give to him our obedience. But his Son - the Lord Jesus Christ - came to be born. To live obediently, gratefully, prayerfully, reverently, humbly, dependently, so that he would praise God. And that is why, if we believe in him, our spirit is recreated - renewed - forgiven. This is why we give him praise.

But for those who have not trusted him, who do not believe in Christ - God is not your father. He is your creator - and if you do not give to him obedience, gratitude, reverence, praise, nor do you acknowledge his creative genius and your obligation to him to be humble and obedient, you continue in your sin. And sinners will all one day be consumed out of the earth. I speak to you who do not believe God the Father, almighty maker of heaven and earth, who do not know him through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and I urge you this day to open your eyes, your ears, your nose, your hands - to look around, to listen, smell, touch, and taste the created order and understand the wisdom and greatness of God, and to be obligated to him.

1. God Demonstrates His Greatness in His Creation

2. God Expresses His Care in His Providence

3. Man Is Obligated to Trust in This Great and Caring God