(13) “He watereth the mountains from His chambers; The earth is filled with the fruit of Thy works.
(14) He 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,
(15) And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, And oil to make his face to shine, And bread that strengtheneth man’s heart.
(16) The trees of Jehovah are filled with moisture, The cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted;
(17) Where the birds make their nests; As for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
(18) The high mountains are for the wild goats; The rocks are a refuge for the conies.
(19) He appointed the moon for seasons; The sun knoweth his going down.
(20) Thou makest darkness, and it is night, Wherein all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
(21) The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.
(22) The sun ariseth, they get them away, And lay them down in their dens.
(23) Man goeth forth unto his work And to his labor until the evening.
(24) O Jehovah, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all; The earth is full of Thy riches.”
QUESTIONS.
1. What part of the animal kingdom find a home near the streams?
2. How do they give expression of praise to Jehovah?
3. From what source do the mountains receive their supply of water?
4. How is the earth replenished?
5. How is the need of the cattle supplied?
6. What is made to grow for the benefit of man?
7. What purpose is carried out by this working?
8. What is thus supplied to gladden man?
9. How is the supply of strength continued to man?
10. What evidence is given of the Husbandman’s care for the forests?
11. What specific case is mentioned?
12. What homes are found among these trees?
13. What instance of selecting a tree-house is mentioned?
14. For what kind of animals are the mountains adapted?
15. For what kind of animals do the rocks furnish a hiding-place?
16. To what use is the moon appointed in the economy of nature?
17. How is the close of the day marked?
18. What condition distinguishes the night from the day?
19. What creatures venture forth in the night?
20. From whom do the young lions ask their food? In what way?
21. What do these animals do at the dawn of day?
22. For whom has the day been appointed as the season of labor?
23. What is said of the works of Jehovah? How have they been wrought?
24. With what is the earth filled?15
NOTES.
1. ALTHO the ground was cursed on account of the sin of man (Gen. 3:17), yet the power of God is working through it to supply His creatures with food. This is a revelation of the power of the cross of Christ in overcoming the curse.
2. FROM verses 14, 15, we may learn that food, both for man and beast, is the gift of God. Read John 6:5-12, 27, 32-35, and note the explanation thus given of the annual miracle of multiplying the loaves to feed the world.
3. BEFORE sin came into the world and brought so many artificial conditions, man was in much closer touch with his Maker. “The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them.” “It was the work of Adam and Eve to train the branches of the vine to form bowers, thus making for themselves a dwelling from living trees covered with foliage and fruit.” Altho the animal creation has been involved in the suffering consequent upon sin, yet the trees still constitute a home for the birds, the mountains for the goats, and the rocks for the conies.
4. WHEN the young lions roar after their prey, God regards it as a call upon Him for food. Work was not imposed upon man as a punishment for sin. The Father and the Son are both workers. John 5:17. The experience of weariness and of wearing out while working is, however, one of the results of sin.
5. WITH verse 24 compare Prov. 3:19, 20 and Jer. 10:12. There is creative power in divine wisdom and true knowledge. “The true higher education is what makes students acquainted with God and His Word, and fits them for eternal life.”
LESSON 3.—JANUARY 17.—GOD’S CARE FOR HIS CREATURES.
(25) “Yonder is the sea, great and wide, Wherein are things creeping [moving] innumerable, Both small and great beasts [living creatures].
(26) There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom Thou hast formed to play therein.
(27) These wait all for Thee, That Thou mayest give them their food in due season.
(28) Thou givest unto them, they gather; Thou openest Thy hand, they are satisfied with good.
(29) Thou hidest Thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.
(30) Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created; And Thou renewest the face of the ground.
(31) Let the glory of Jehovah endure forever; Let Jehovah rejoice in His works;
(32) Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.
(33) I will sing unto Jehovah as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
(34) Let my meditation be sweet unto Him; I will rejoice in Jehovah.
(35) Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, And let the wicked be no more. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise ye Jehovah.”
QUESTIONS.
1. What description is given of the sea?
2. What are found in it?
3. In what way does the sea serve the purposes of commerce?
4. What sea-monster sports in the water?
5. What is the attitude of all these creatures towards their Creator?
6. What do they expect from Him?
7. What part does God act in the matter?
8. What part do these living creatures act?
9. How fully does God supply the needs of His creatures?
10. What brings His creatures into distress?
11. What causes their death? To what do they then return?
12. By what agency are they recreated?
13. What change is thus made in the condition of the earth?
14. What desire is expressed concerning the glory of Jehovah?
15. How much satisfaction is it desired that Jehovah shall take in His works?
16. How much power is there in a look of Jehovah?
17. How much power is there in His touch?
18. What vow does the psalmist make to Jehovah?
19. To what does he say his whole life shall be devoted?
20. What desire does he express concerning his meditation?
21. What does he declare shall be the basis of his rejoicing?
22. What experience awaits the sinners?
23. What will become of the wicked?
24. What exhortation is now repeated?
25. What significant word closes the psalm?
NOTES.
1. STILL the psalmist sings of the eternal mercies of God and His wonderful providence. Now he shows that divine care is over even the innumerable forms of life beneath the broad expanse of the ocean. All wait upon God, and not one is forgotten. Luke 12:6, 7, 24. But that which is given, “they gather.” Busy activity is the law of life for all creatures.
2. “The Lord shall rejoice in His works.” See Ps. 147:11; Zeph. 3:16, 17. The earth itself is represented as responding to a look from the Creator. The sensitiveness of all creation to the touch of God leads the psalmist to declare his purpose to meditate on God’s care and glory continually. The advent idea pervades the psalms. Here is the divinely-inspired prayer for the blotting out of sin, which mars creation. It is the same prayer that closes the book of Revelation. Rev. 22:20.
