Psalm 104--Exegetical Thoughts

In our class discussion, Dr.McCann identified Psalm 104 as another creation story. Certainly, the connection to the creation story as pictured in Genesis 1 can be seen (Ps. 104: 29-30, especially). But rather than getting a primeval, mythic portrayal of origins, Psalm 104 conveys a different type of creation. Though like those pictured in Genesis 1, it has its beginnings in the Lord, this creation story is continuing to unfold right before our eyes.

Both Limburg and Mays draw attention to the movement of Psalm 104 from God in heaven (vss. 1-4) to God's ongoing creative work on earth (beginning in vs. 5). God as both heavenly and earthly presence is a theme running through the Psalms, and is one I touched on briefly in my exploration of Psalm 82. Psalm 82 pictures God's power on earth is characterized by a concern with justice--God fires those who participate in injustice. In Psalm 104, God's power is characterized by a creativity and care for all creatures on earth. Both Limburg and Mays also draw attention to fact that humanity is but one species among many listed in Psalm 104 (Limberg 354; Mays 334). The psalmist sees God's caring relationship not only with humanity, but also with the created world, especially other animals (vss. 14-23). The psalmist recognizes God's gracious, sustaining action in the provision of food, shelter, and care not just of humans, but of all creation (Mays 333).

In class, we discussed the idea that biodiversity as a theological concept. Because no one created thing can understand God fully on its own, the diversity of the created world helps us to see different aspects of God. The natural world, then, becomes a source of revelation about the character and the intentions of God. Psalm 104 tells us that God is a nurturing God with an intention of an ordered, deeply interconnected creation.

However, it is no secret that the biodiversity of Earth is decreasing at alarming rates. We understand many of the ecological consequences of this. But the theological implication is that God is also diminished with this loss. When any piece of the revelation of God goes missing, the entire picture becomes skewed.

Recently, I read an NPR piece on the importance of bees (click here for article). The article examined the decreasing population of bees both from an ecological standpoint and from an economic standpoint. What was frightening to me was how the economic understanding of the situation actually portrayed the lack of bees as a potential economic positive--if humans did the work of the bees, you actually have an increased crop, have workers with jobs who now have money to stimulate the economy. The disturbing reality here is that an economic understanding of biodiversity results in the commodification of the natural world. The value of the natural world, then, is understood only in cash amounts.

In contrast, Psalm 104 takes a theological understanding of biodiversity. And through meditating on this diversity and on the care God exhibits for all those considered in the psalm, the psalmist understands that the value of the world is that it witnesses to God's creative and creating power. It is the tangible space in which God reveals God's character and intentions for the word--intentions of harmony and balance, not of exploitation and profit.

I can see how some may write of Psalm 104, saying that in an ancient culture, they would have been tied more closely to the earth, and thus this imagery and language would speak more truth then than it does now. Natural theology in the Psalms, then, becomes a quaint, antiquated way of understanding God that doesnot impact our lives. What I think Psalm 14 does more than anything, though, is to expose the gaping hole in how our current culture is ordered--without a strong natural theology. Some may say that natural theology may not be relevant in the here and now, but I would argue that mindset it is actually a reflection of the wickedness of our culture. Rather than us patronizing the text, Psalm 104 calls us to change as a result of the text. This, I believe, is one way to read the final verse (vs. 35) of Psalm 104--as an acknowledgement that there are going to be some people who do not understand the value of God's creative and creating power. But by turning again to the obvious work of God in the natural world, the sinners and wicked may again be able to whisper to their souls, "Bless the Lord...Praise the Lord!" (vs. 35b).