Psalm 104
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 105
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
14He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
20The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
30Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
32He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
34He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 106
1Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
3Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
6We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
9He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
10And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
12Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.
18And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
19They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
20Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
21They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
22Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
24Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
26Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
28They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
30Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
31And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
32They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
33Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
38And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
39Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
42Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
44Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
47Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
48Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 107
1O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Chapter 104
I like the first nine verses or so because they remind me to worship the Creator and not the creation. I can say that I honestly do worship the Creator and I feel like that's what's being emphasized here. Although verses 10-11 apply to animals, I praise Him for providing for animals by sending springs into the valleys. He provides me with water to quench my thirst, which I am thankful for. I don't have anything to say about verse 12, but what I will say about verse 13 is that I see God's glory in His providing for the earth. Since the earth is described as being satisfied, I am satisfied that He provides for me and I know I can depend on Him for that. I'm glad I don't have to bow down to some man in order to be provided for. He does bring food out of the earth (v. 14), which isn't something I take for granted. It's crazy how a lot of the stuff I eat ultimately has its source and that God helps the source to grow. He provides for people even if they don't acknowledge Him, which goes to show how far-reaching His love is. That's the love I wanna continue to show to others because I'm not one to discriminate against those who don't follow Christ. I don't drink wine (v. 15), but I do like Matthew Henry's thought on the verse, "Nor let us forget spiritual blessings; the fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of gladness." So view 15 is referring to communion and I don't take communion time for granted because it's a great thing to be able to reflect what Christ did on that cross. I know that the wine (or juice) and the bread are symbolic and that as a result of Jesus dying on the cross, salvation was presented to me as a gift. What I'm getting at is that I'm not sure if I agree with Henry in terms of it representing everlasting life. I'd have to look into that some more since I'm already getting off on a tangent. I praise Him for providing homes for the birds and the stork (vv. 16-17). Same goes for verse 18 in regards to the goats and the conies. If He didn't provide for animals, they'd have nowhere to go and they'd probably annoy me, so I'm glad they don't.
I like Henry's thought on verses 19-20, "We are to praise and magnify God for the constant succession of day and night." I do tend to thank God for the day -- both at morning and at night, so I guess I'm doing my part in that aspect. I can't relate to verses 21-23,but what I will say about verse 24 is that the Lord has many works and I don't know of a man who done as many work as He has. Those work are basically what I talked about up until this point and there are other works described of His throughout the Bible. "In wisdom hast thou made all" means to me that God knew what He was doing when He made all. I don't attempt to number sea creatures myself (v. 25) and the fact that sea creatures can't be numbered means that to me that since God is unlimited, He can create as many sea creatures as He wants. I'm glad He's unlimited -- not in the sense that He can make a square circle -- but in the sense that He won't stop creating a certain amount of something. I can't personally relate to verses 26-27, but I suppose if I were to relate to them, I'd say that if I were to wait to upon Him to provide me for me. In a way, that was what I did during my darkest moment -- waited for Him to provide me with a way out. With that in mind, God did open His hand and I was filled with good (v. 28). To expand on that, I ended up being at peace with the Lord at the end of my darkest moment, which allowed for me to grow closer to Him. I can't, at this time, relate to verse 29, but what it means to me is that in my darkest moment, God took my breath away which caused me to rely on Him and trust in Him. By doing that, I died to relying on myself since I knew that only God could help me out. He did send forth His spirit (v. 30) and I was eventually renewed. What verse 31 means to me, where it says, "The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever" is that His glory is everlasting and that I can always express thanks to Him for the things He's done in my life. I'm not sure how I'd relate to verse 32, but I do sing Him (v. 33), which I see as a lifetime thing. I like Henry's thought on verse 33, "And if mediation on the glories of creation be so sweet to the soul, what greater glory appears to the enlightened mind, when contemplating the great work of redemption!" Perhaps I should meditate on redemption more. I do kind of meditate on it when talking about it in my reflection, though, so I'm probably doing OK. I don't have much to say about verse 35, but I will say that I praise Him probably while He's governing, which is what dealing with the sinners and the wicked would be an example of.
Chapter 105
Matthew Henry comments on the first few verses by stating the following, "Our devotion is here stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Seek his strength; that is, his grace; the strength of his Spirit to work in us that which is good, which we cannot do but by strength derived from him, for which he will be sought." I already put verses 1-3 into practice on a regular basis, in church and stuff. I will say, though, that in regards to verse 1 where it says, " make known his deeds among the people" that God wants for me to make known the great things He's done in my life, especially because it glorifies Him, even if it's just something small. I do seek His strength (v. 4), but perhaps I should do it more often in regards to the little things. During Old Testament times, He did do mavellous works in Egypt (v. 5). I figure people grew closer to Him as a result. I grew closer to Him when I was freed from my darkest moment. I'm not sure if I supposed to consider myself a seed of Abraham (v. 6), but I do like the fact that His judgments are in all the earth (v. 7). What that means to me is that I can trust in His plan and how it will affect the world and know that something good will come out of it. Think I'll include Henry's thoughts on verses 8-15, "Though true Christians are few number, strangers and pilgrims upon earth, yet a far better inheritance than Canaan is made sure to them by the covenant of God; and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, none can do us any harm. Afflictions are among our mercies." The Holy Spirit anointed me when I came to Christ, which is how I see verses 14-15. God must've told the enemy to not touch me during my darkest moment. I can't relate to verse 16, but verses 17-19 remind me of my darkest moment. I was spiritually hurt (v. 18), but God's Word helped me to stay strong (v. 19) so I could have confience in Him. He freed me (v. 20), but I suppose I can't relate to verse 21 considering my age. I know that I can teach and provide wisdom to those younger than me (v. 22), which I can't say I've done much of. Maybe I could use my darkest moment to draw wisdom from to encourage others. It would be a wonderful thing to be used by God in that way. I'm not sure how I would relate to verses 23-26, but I know that the Lord does show signs (v. 27) and that I should try and be mindful of the ones being shown in these last days. What verses 28-30 mean to me is that sometimes God brings about plagues in one's life so he or she will submit to Him. That wasn't how I came to Christ, but I know some people that have and it resulted in something good, so it's not like God made Himself look like a tyrant or what have you. What the plagues illustrate in verses 31-39 to me is that when I have plagues in my life is that I should rely completely and utterly on God to help me out, which was what I did during my darkest moment. I like Henry's thought on verses 40-41, "He satisfies our souls with the bread of heaven, and the water of life from the Rock of salvation, and will bring us safely to heaven." The moment I was freed from my darkest moment, my soul was satisfied with the bread of heaven (v. 40) and even though I was spiritually dry, His living water came upon me (v. 41). I can't say that I relate to verse 42, but I know that I had feelings of joy when I was freed from my darkest moment (v. 43). I like Henry's thought on the last two verses, "He redeems his servants from all iniquity, and purifies them unto himself, to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works." I don't have much to add to that.
Chapter 106
I do give thanks to Him (v. 1) and I thankful for His mercy (or love) towards me and that it endures forever. It reminds that I can still praise Him and give thanks towards Him even though I may sin. I also like how Henry put it, "None of our sins or sufferings should prevent our ascribing glory and praise to the Lord. The more unworthy we are, the more is his kindness to be admired." Verse 2 reminds me that there's no one I could know all the good things God has done -- in the past and in the present. I think that illustrates how good He is and that I can praise Him for the good things He's done in the lives of others besides my own. Verse 3 calls me to examine myself to see if I am doing righteous things at all times. That can be a hard thing to live up to, but that doesn't mean I can't try. I feel that verse 4 relates to my darkest moment since I asked God to show His favor upon me. I didn't use those exact words, but the point is that God saved me and helped me out. The only thing I get out of verse 5 in regards to my darkest moment is that I was reminded that God is my inheritance and I was thankful to be a part of that and I still am. Here's Henry's thoughts on verse 6, "Here begins a confession of sin; for we must acknowledge that the Lord has done right, and we have done wickedly. We are encouraged to hope that though justly corrected, yet we shall not be utterly forsaken." Verse 6 kinda reminds me that sin is an inherited thing, but that's no excuse for it. I'd say that when I gave my life over to Christ, I acknowledged that I was a sinner and needed His help, which is also how verse 6 fits in. I'm not sure how I would relate to verse 7, but I do know that God saved me for His Name's Sake (v. 8) and He does make His power known in my life. He did that during my darkest moment -- when He freed me from the enemy and dealt with him. I guess I would relate to verse 9 by saying that the Red Sea that was rebuked in my life was the enemy trying to get me to believe his lies. God dealt with him, which is how I see the spiritual application. He did save and redeem me (v. 10) and covered the enemy by battling him, which is what verse 11 illustrates to me in terms of spiritual application. I did praise Him as a result of His freeing me (v. 12) and I still do. I can't relate to verses 13-15, but I will say that I have applied them to my life by not doing them since God would frown upon me for doing them. It's kinda weird to say that I have applied those things to my life by NOT doing them, but I'd say that it shows that by learning from examples, I know what to do and what not to do so God is glorified as a result. If I do something that God wouldn't want me to do there would be consequences, which is what verses 16-33 mean to me. I can't think of a time when I didn't do something that God told me to do, but I suppose I could examine myself in that aspect. There has been a few times where I felt that the Holy Spirit was leading me to do something and I didn't do it, which is what comes to mind. I'm not sure how I would relate to verses 34-40 since I haven't mingle among the heathen or anything like that, but I will say that there are consequences for my actions -- both good and bad. God knows what I do and don't do and if He's gonna ask me why I didn't something that He told me to do during judgment time, I'll be OK with that and I imagine I'll be prepared to give an answer. I can't relate to verses 41-42, but I will say that it's a bad idea to make God angry. I haven't fooled God into asking for a fake deliverance (v. 43) and that verse lets me know that I shouldn't. Even if I did, though, God would help me out (vv. 44-45). In regards to that, I thank Him for His grace and mercy and that even though He'd get pissed at me for lying to Him, He'd eventually show love towards me. It reminds that before I became Christian, God probably didn't like some of the things I did yet He was willing to forgive me. I imagine that there's no man that forgives like God does and no man that forgets like God does. God's covenant was something I committed to when I became a Christian, which is what I get out of verse 46. I also get out of it that even though I may screw up nowadays, God will forgive me even if He's pissed at me. I guess He kinda felt that way during my darkest moment since I basically fell on my face, which I needed in order to get back on my track on my walk. So maybe my falling on my face was God's way of expressing that He didn't like what I was doing. I like Henry's thoughts on the last few verses, "The psalm concludes with prayer for completing the deliverance of God's people, and praise for the beginning and progress of it. May all the people of the earth, ere long, add their Amen." I guess I did thank God when He started freeing me from my darkest moment.
Chapter 107
Verse 1 is basically a repeat of Psalm 106:1, so just look at my reflection on that. What verse 2 means to me is that God knows who has been saved and who hasn't and only He can make that judgment. That is what His redemption will demonstrate when the time comes, which should be an interesting thing to see. I also imagine that God will gather up those people (v. 3) in order to judge them. I'm not sure exactly how the judgement takes place, so it's something I'd have to look into. I don't think of God's judgment as a negative thing, though, so being judged will be a good thing from my perspective. I suppose in regards to verses 4-6, I could use those to relate to my darkest moment since I did wander and was spiritually hungry. I was and am still thankful that God helped me out in my distress. I don't think I could've asked for anything better. Once I was freed, He did continue leading me (v. 7). I think by doing that, He kept the enemy at bay and kept me from getting involved with the enemy, which made direction from Him clear. I haven't told a lot of a people much about my darkest moment, but verse 8 kind of encourages me to because doing so could encourage others. God did fill me (v. 9) -- I remember a feeling of revival and that when I came to Him, He filled me up and satisfied my (spiritual) hunger. I think that caused my walk with Him to become closer and deeper since it helped me to realize that He can and He does fulfill spiritual hunger. I'm not sure how I would relate to verse 10, but I know that my rebellion (v. 11) was kind of what started my darkest moment cuz I did rebel against God by trying to do things my way. I did fall down (v. 12) and had to cry out to Him when I was in trouble (v. 13). I was thankful that He let me do that even thought I did nothing to deserve it. I remember being brought out of darkness (v. 14) -- like a feeling that the enemy wasn't gonna bother me anymore. I dunno how to describe it, but that's how I remember feeling. I do praise Him for His good works (v. 15), but perhaps I should try and do as verse 8 says in regards to my darkest moment.
I'm not sure how I'd relate to verses 16-18 since I don't abhor (or loathe) food, but I will say that if my sins afflict me (v. 17), it is a sign that I need God and that He wants me to cry out to Him so He can save me (v. 19), which is kinda how my darkest moment fits in here because I was afflicted by my rebellion and I needed God to help me out. I'm not sure how to describe that He healed me (v. 20) but He did. See my reflections on verses 8 and 15 in regards to verse 21. I don't make blood sacrifices to Him (v. 22), but I do express thanks to Him pretty much every day.
I can't relate to verses 23-24 since I don't spend much time in great waters, but I think I'll look at verses 25-32 as a spiritual metaphor in terms of how I relate to the passage. Since God commands the sea and its moment, He can do the same thing in one's spiritual life (v. 25). That was kinda how God worked if I go back to the part where I feel on my face: He allowed me to fall so I could rely on Him. That applies to verses 26-27 as well. I did cry out to Him (v. 28), which caused me to be free from distress. He made my storm calm (v. 29) by freeing me from the enemy's grip. I was glad to have been brought to my haven (v. 30), which I thanked Him for. In regards to verses 31-32, just see my reflection on verses 8 and 15.
If I were look at verses 33-35 from a spiritual application perspective, I could. The way I see it, I expereinced what those verses are talking about during my darkest moment since I did feel dry (v. 33) for a while as well as barren (v. 34). Those basically gave the enemy a sign to attack me and they let me know that I needed to depend on God. He turned things around me for me immediately, which is how I would relate to verse 35. It's a crazy thing to think about -- God's way of changing things, especially no one turns things around like He does. I can't say I've prepared a city for people to live in (v. 36), but I know that since I felt spiritually hungry during my darkest moment, I could depend on God to be my dwellingplace and He was, which really made me feel at home and loved. To me, verses 36-38 deal with planting seeds to non-belivers and helping them to grow and, I guess, cultivate. I can't say I've ever reached that level in planting seeds, but I would like to some day and it'd be great if God used me in that way. I can't relate to verses 39-40, but they remind that being against God has consequences. If I were to get involved with those kinds of people, I would try and stay away from them as much as I could so I wouldn't be brought down with them, which is what verse 41 means to me. I can't think of time when I had a similar experience to what verses 39-43 are describing, so I'd have to think about that. Otherwise, there's not much point in talking about the last two verses. I will say, though, that my darkest moment kinda comes to mind in reagrds to the passage since God poured contempt on the enemy and since I was released from my affliction.
Sources used:
Henry, Matthew. "Concise Commentary on Psalms 104". "Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
on the Whole Bible". <http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/mhc-con/view.cgi?book=ps&chapter=104>.
Henry, Matthew. "Concise Commentary on Psalms 105". "Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
on the Whole Bible". <http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/mhc-con/view.cgi?book=ps&chapter=105>.
Henry, Matthew. "Concise Commentary on Psalms 106". "Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
on the Whole Bible". <http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/mhc-con/view.cgi?book=ps&chapter=106>.
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