Psa 104:1-5 “I will be glad in the LORD” Part 1

Psa 104:1  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 
Psa 104:2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 
Psa 104:3  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 
Psa 104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 
Psa 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

In this Psalm 104 we are looking at in this study, we are encouraged through God’s promises that He can, as the author and finisher of our faith, help us through the much tribulation promised in this life, as we come to learn of His strength which is so great that we can proclaim “I will be glad in the LORD” whether we are on top of the mountain or in the depth of the valley. Our prayer and hope for each other is that we can continue to be blessed to have eyes that see God’s word and hear those promises that are exceedingly great and precious “that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.

Psa 104:34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Psa 104:35  Let 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.

Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! [consuming the sinners out of our earth and letting the wicked be no more Joh 8:36]
Psa 107:32  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Psa 107:33  He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We hope to look at what it will take for us to be glad in the LORD, learning by how God ministers to us, with a goal of teaching us to learn to be content and rejoice always for the workmanship of our Father that we are (Eph 2:10). That workmanship is pronounced very clearly throughout the scriptures including this Psalm 104, and revealed to God’s elect that we are blessed recipients having our names written in heaven, where a relationship is being forged through fiery trials (Luk 10:20, Eph 2:6, 1Pe 4:12). We can trust our sovereign Creator in this age and resist sin even unto the shedding of blood through Christ who strengthens us because our names are written in heaven (Heb 12:4, Php 4:13, 2Ti 2:10). And in order for that trust to be formed within the body of Christ, He must destroy Israel of old, the fig tree spoken of in Matthew 21:19 and Micah 4:3-4 and graft us into the new life of Christ Who is the true vine through whom we can bear much fruit (Joh 15:4-5).

The physical language in this Psalm describes how God will bring the spiritual living waters to us, which we must receive if we are going to be matured and settled in the LORD “in newness of life”. He is the one who raises the storm (Psa 107:25) and gives us the struggles which we all must endure throughout this life to see “the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more” of Psalm 104:35, just as the type of baptism that happened during Noah’s day (1Co 10:2-13, Rom 6:3-4). This thought is echoed in Paul’s words which remind us that we serve a very great God whose “grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. A critical mindset of being content or glad in the Lord is something God is forming in His children and is the reason why we can finally say that whether we have a little or a lot, we can learn to be content in the LORD and say “I will be glad in the LORD”. It is that gladness, that contentment which God forms, that allows us to accept our lot in life, even as we esteem others better than ourselves (Php 2:3) and come to truly grasp and hold in our hearts these verses in Romans that remind us how God will humble all flesh and show this same mercy He is showing to us today toward all the rest of His creation in time (Rom 11:19-21, Rom 11:32).

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Php 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me [the body of Christ, each joint that supplies through our hope of glory Eph 4:16, Col 1:27].

Php 4:14  Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (ESV)
1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1Ti 6:13  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Ti 6:14  That thou keep this commandment without spot^G784, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: [this command being given to us is expressed also in Jam 1:27 and is speaking of the same point, that we remain unspotted from the world, loving not the world or the things that are in the world (1Jn 2:15)].

G784   aspilos   as’-pee-los

From G1 (as a negative particle) and G4695; unblemished (physically or morally): – without spot, unspotted.

unspotted, 1 G784

Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows [types and shadows of the elect] in their affliction[being crushed by Christ (Mat 21:44)], and to keep himself unspotted^G784 from the world.

Luk 10:37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith [He that shewed mercy on him].

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

We will be glad and rejoice in the LORD when we are convinced of the certainty of His love and faithfulness to start and finish what He has begun in the body of Christ (Php 1:6, Heb 12:2, Rom 8:38-39). Getting to the point of being convinced that Christ will never leave or forsake us (Deu 31:6, Heb 13:5) was meant to be a struggle which God would use to bind us and bring each of us to see the necessity for what each joint supplies (Eph 4:16) along the narrow way (Mat 7:14) as we’re led unto the ultimate reward of entering into His joy (Mat 25:21).

This Psalm is filled with hope-filled promises that explain God’s might and power through the physical creation that is a shadow of how “very great” God is and how fearfully and wonderfully made we are as a kind of His first fruits of His creation who are promised to be well watered by our great Husbandman.

Psa 139:14  I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
Psa 139:15  My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.
Psa 139:17  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! (ASV)

Jer 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jer 1:6  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jer 1:7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jer 1:8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jer 1:9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
Jer 1:10  See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

We “bless the LORD” and hope with grateful hearts for where we are in life (1Co 7:20, 1Ti 6:6). And that grateful heart is the “O my soul” not looking at what you don’t have or being concerned about the abundance which others have, but grateful for what He has given you, that is the perfect place to “bless the LORD” whether you have a little or a lot: bless him and offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving unto our Father.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Luk 21:3  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

“O LORD my God, thou are very great;” and yet God shows us through Christ how we don’t understand in our flesh what true greatness is to God, not until we are clothed “with honour and majesty”. It is Christ’s majesty with which our Father is clothing us, with His mind and new heart that judges righteous judgment and sees the sacrifice of Christ in others as Christ did with the widow at the temple who “cast in more than they all”.

Isa 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isa 61:11  For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.[through the new vine and fig tree Jesus Christ our hope of glory within (Col 1:27)]

Joh 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

When we are judged of God, and abased through that judgment, we come to see how blind we truly are in our flesh and how we constantly need Christ to give us the power to bring all our thoughts into subjection unto Him, clothing us with His honour and His majesty. As God’s elect, we are searching out the matter of how to be clothed with His majesty and honour in this life.

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [clothing ourselves with his honour and majesty]

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Pro 25:3  The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Pro 25:4  Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Pro 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Pro 8:18  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Pro 8:19  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Pro 8:20  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Pro 3:16  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

So what is it that precedes our being robed as Christ is robed, because as He is so are we in this life? What precedes our being robed is the judgment which must come upon our first man Adam who is at first blind to the blindness he possesses and not able to see that it is when we say we are rich and increased with goods that we are in our most impoverished state.

Psa 93:1  The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
Psa 93:2  Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Getting back to our question…so what is it that precedes our being robed as Christ is robed;

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luk 15:22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luk 15:23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

Psa 104:2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 
Psa 104:3  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 
Psa 104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 

These verses tell us what God does with the clothes that Christ is clothed with, initially described in the first verse as “thou art clothed with honour and majesty“. Knowing God and Jesus Christ is eternal life (Joh 17:3). However, we only know him when we wear his clothes and eat his food, or said another way, when we are clothed with His righteousness and fed with His word and continue in those things which we learn, then we are disciples indeed who are clothed with “honour and majesty”,  “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment”, “who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain”, “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters”, “who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind”, “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire”. All these descriptive verses from (Psalms 104:2-4 are explaining in various ways the same point being said of Christ and His body in the first verse “thou art clothed with honour and majesty“.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Benjamin, as a type of the elect, is given “three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment” to remind us that God’s elect are the first to be saved through a grace and faith process of judgment upon our first man Adam which is symbolized by three hundred pieces of silver [process of judgment which leads to repentance] and five changes of raiment [grace that chastens and helps us put off the old self-righteous garments] so that we can be clothed with the fine linen of Christ which is the righteousness of the saint that is granted to us.

Gen 45:22  To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
Gen 45:23  And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The types and shadows in the old covenant which speak about Christ, also represent the elect and were written for our edification and instruction in righteousness as types and shadows of what God will do through Christ, who is purifying the bride, washing her garments in His blood, sanctifying us with His word (1Co 10:11, 2Ti 3:16, Eph 3:10).  That sanctification process, which Christ is working in the body, both to will and to do (Php 2:13), is being expressed in these terms “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain” to help us remember that it is Christ who is our hope of glory within, giving us the ability to fill up what is behind of His afflictions, receiving increase that is likened unto “garment” and “curtain” and “the beams of his chambers in the waters”, or “the wings of the wind” which is a shadow of the Cherubim who represent the elect of God  (Col 1:27, Col 1:24, 1Co 3:6).

Exo 36:35  And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. [fearfully and wonderfully made]

God’s increase is described as “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters [building the temple of God within us]: who maketh the clouds his chariot [the elect are the cloud of witness and God’s chariot]: who walketh upon the wings of the wind [the cherubim or elect of God]” as well as “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire [this verse just confirming all along that God is talking about His children].” These are all works of the Lord unfolding in His people, and were all predestined to happen, being written from the foundation of the world so that “he might fill all things”.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Psa 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

The foundations of the earth, as we just read, are the works which God is establishing within the church, will “not be removed for ever” because God has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against this predestined foundation of good works which He is forming.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

That foundation is Christ, of course, and His body, which is the temple of God that we are. It is a sure foundation because it is Christ who is building it, and He is the author and finisher of it, to the glory of God.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Next week, Lord willing, we look again more closely at how God is fashioning the bride of Christ and making her ready so that we can say “I will be glad in the LORD”.

Here are the verses we plan to examine:

Psa 104:6  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
Psa 104:7  At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.Linen
Psa 104:8  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Psa 104:9  Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
Psa 104:10  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
Psa 104:11  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
Psa 104:12  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.