Psalm 104:1–35 (ESV):
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendour and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
4 he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.
5 He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills;
11 they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
15 and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine
and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has her home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they steal away
and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
and to his labour until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with creatures innumerable,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships,
and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
27 These all look to you,
to give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke!
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
Some people say that you either believe in Science or God. This psalm actually proves that studying the behaviour and structure of the natural world (Science) demonstrates that there is indeed a God!
The make up of the Earth, the placement of waters, mountains, deserts and valleys, has all been designed. The waters have boundaries, the mountains have been placed, and there are springs of water in places that would otherwise be barren. All has been designed so that life can exist. Plants grow, all types of flora and fauna, sea creatures and animals can respire and have sustenance. Every living thing is provided for and has a place it can call home. Surely this is mind-blowingly incredible?! Every living thing has all it needs, from water to food, shelter to freedom, rest to breath. So consider;
How many living things are there on the Earth that have this marvellous provision that ensures their survival?!
How has the Earth and all that is in it managed to exist and continue to exist?
How do all of the life cycles work, interlink and continue, without provision running out, for thousands of years?
Then there is also the water cycle to consider plus the cycle of seasons and the different climates and habitats around the World. Not forgetting the structure of mountains, valleys, springs and volcanoes. As well as the fact that there is night and day, rain and sun. There is design, order and creativity in the make up of the World, so how did it come to be so well put together as well as being able to continue to function? How can you even begin to understand this scientific and engineering marvel without considering that there must be One who has designed, created and provides for it all?!
‘O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all’! It makes sense that this World and all that is in it has a maker. One who is capable of such intelligence to interweave the fabric of all sorts of life together. What other explanation could there be? Everything has been so well organised to the most basic of details, life would cease to exist if it was not. Surely there must be an intelligent, meticulous maker behind it all, orchestrating the seasons and climates, bringing the breath of life to all creatures.
When you consider the Earth and all that is in it, what is your conclusion? Does the study of Science prove or disprove the existence of God?
