Message Notes

CONTEXT

1. Problem in the world today

a. Many have lost a sense of the greatness of God

b. People are caught up with themselves instead

2. Psalm 104’s focus is on the greatness of God

a. The psalmist blessed God for His greatness

b. How did the psalmist find this sense of God’s greatness?

c. What can we learn from the psalmist to find this sense of God’s greatness?

CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honour and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.

Psalm 104:1-4

1. The psalmist began his psalm focusing on God

a. He is very great

b. He is clothed with honour and majesty

2. His consciousness of God helped him to see God’s greatness in this physical world

a. He saw light as God’s garment

b. Heavens as merely His curtains

c. The sky (waters) as His abode

d. The great clouds as His chariots

e. Wind as His pathway

f. Mighty angels as His ministers

CONTEMPLATION OF GOD’S GREATNESS

1. The psalmist reflected on God’s sovereign power over His creation

5 You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,
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 voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
8 [c]They went up over the mountains;
They went down into the valleys,
To the place which You founded for them.
9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
That they may not return to cover the earth.

Psalm 104:5-9

a. God is responsible for laying the foundations of the earth

b. He is the One who covered the earth with the deep (ocean)

c. He had commanded the waters to go where He planned for them to be

d. He prevents them from covering the earth again

2. He thought of God’s provision for His creation

10 He sends the springs into the valleys;
They flow among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.

14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth food from the earth

Psalm 104:10-11, 14

a. God provides water to both plants and animals

b. He also provides vegetation as food and shelter to animals and man

3. He pondered over God’s plan in regulating the earth

19 He appointed the moon for seasons;
The sun knows its going down.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 The young lions roar after their prey,
And seek their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they gather together
And lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
And to his labour until the evening.

Psalm 104:19-23

a. God appointed the sun and moon to regulate the life of animals and man

b. Man and animals both follow the order of the day to hunt and rest

4. He stood in awe of God in response

O LORD, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions—

Psalm 104:24

a. For His manifold works

b. That He had made all things in His great wisdom

c. That He is the Possessor of all things on earth!

CHALLENGE FOR US ALL – CULTIVATION

1. To cultivate a greater consciousness of God

a. To let our focus be on God

b. To see God in the everyday things of life

2. To cultivate the practice of contemplating about God’s greatness

a. His power over the world

b. His provision for the earth

c. His plan to regulate life

3. May we find a greater appreciation for His greatness, and bless Him most wonderfully!