December 5
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MAY MY PRAISE BE PLEASING TO HIM
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD rejoice in His works;
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my praise be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall rejoice in the LORD.
35 May sinners be removed from the earth
And may the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, my soul.
Praise the LORD! Psalm 104:31-35
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This psalm is an exaltation to the Lord. The psalmist declares God’s glory that lasts throughout eternity. It is a declaration of God’s mighty deeds and his power. In verse 32, it gives us a picture of how everything is under God’s control: the earth and mountains all are only able to follow what He wants done. In verse 33, the psalmist models what all believers ought to do, to sing praises to the Lord Almighty, who is worthy of all praise. He declares his choice to be loyal to only bring God the glory. He made a promise that while he still has breath, he will only be faithful to Him. Verse 34 is another declaration of his reverence for the Lord. How he ensures that his worship will be in accordance to God’s preferred adoration. He prays in verse 35 that those who habitually sins be annihilated from this earth. He pleads God to watch his soul prosper and continue to praise Him.
According to enduringword.com commentary, the psalmist understood that God is also worshipped by our thoughts. What we choose to set our mind on is a measure of what we truly value. Knowing the greatness and goodness of God as revealed in creation, the psalmist wanted his thoughts to be pleasing to God.
May sinners be consumed from the earth: This seems a strange and solemn declaration in this psalm. Yet it is the logical consequence for those who reject God as Creator. Paul later developed this thought in Romans 1, speaking of the guilt and consequences due to those who reject God as Creator and worship the creature rather than the Creator.
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REFLECTION
• How can the way we worship God be displeasing to Him?