Psalms 104:1-35 - Homiletics

The heritage of man.

The psalmist sings of the greatness of God ( supra ) , and also of the fair heritage bestowed upon us. This includes—

I. SUFFICIENCY AND VARIETY OF FOOD . "These [all the living creatures, including man, that have been specified] wait on thee, that thou mayest give them their food," etc. ( Psalms 104:27 ); and the "herb" ( Psalms 104:14 ), for the service of man, stands for all the variety of fruits and vegetables with which our need is met and our taste is gratified. The constant supply of necessary and of palatable food is no small part of our heritage.

II. STRENGTH AND HEALTH . The gift of bread which "strengtheneth man's heart" is suggestive of all the bountiful provision God has made for building up our bodily frame, raising it from infantile helplessness to manly vigour, and frequently restoring from the weakness of disease to the wholeness and capacity of health. Strength is the normal condition, and if we conformed to the laws of nature, i.e. to the will of God, it would be the general and the lasting condition.

III. HAPPINESS . The "wine that makes glad the heart of man" may well stand for all those gifts of God which stimulate and gladden the soul, which give sparkle and joyousness to human life; e.g. the good wine of human fellowship, and that of honourable enterprise, and that of generous helpfulness.

IV. LABOUR . For while oppressive toil is an evil and a part of the penalty of sin, wholesome and regular activity, developing muscle and nerve, ministering to health, conducing to moral soundness, resulting in many kinds of wealth, is a true blessing to our race.

V. REST . God makes the darkness, in which the wild beasts come forth for their prey ( Psalms 104:20 , Psalms 104:21 ), but in which also man lies down to rest; and the sleep which comes with the night is as welcome as the labour which comes with the day ( Psalms 104:23 ). The invigoration which comes between the evening and the morning, fitting the body and the mind for new life, is one of God's kindest gifts to man.

VI. JOY IN GOD AND IN HIS SERVICE . ( Psalms 104:33 , Psalms 104:34 .) The act of contemplation when God (with his loving kindness) is the Object of our thought, and the service of praise, are specified; but these are suggestive of all the blessedness which springs from piety and devotion. All reverent thought, all worship, all sacred study and sacred song, all Christian service rendered "as unto God," all really religious offerings,—all this is a large part of the human heritage. And it all demands of us the frequent utterance ( Psalms 104:1 , Psalms 104:35 ) as well as the deeply cherished spirit, of gratitude and praise.