Psalms 104:13-17

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

-Continuation of the description of God's care of His creatures by watering the dry land; as He waters the lower places or valleys by means of fountains or springs (Psalms 104:10), so the high ground or hills by rain, which makes the grass to grow for cattle, and grain and wine for man, and supplies with sap the tress wherein the birds build their nests.

Verse 13. He watereth the hills - literally (the same Hebrew as in Psalms 104:11), 'He giveth drink to the hills.' Even inanimate nature and the earth are nourished by Him. So this two-fold watering is mentioned in Genesis 49:25, "The Almighty shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under." The hills are the region of rain, as the rain-clouds rest on their summits: cf. Deuteronomy 11:11, "The land is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven" as distinguished from Egypt watered by the Nile.

From his chambers - `from His upper chambers' (Psalms 104:3, note).

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works - i:e., the earth is richly nourished with the rain which is the produce of the waters whereof God's upper chambers (His "works," cf. Psalms 104:24) are constructed by Him (Psalms 104:3, note).

Verse 14. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man - literally, 'for the ministry of man.' But the Hebrew [ la`ªbodat (H5656)] means labour in Psalms 104:23, and usually. Therefore translate, 'and herb (i:e., vegetables, and especially corn) for the cultivation of man.' "The grass" grows "for the cattle" spontaneously; grain and vegetables for man grow only through his laborious cultivation; yet still by the gift and creative power of God (Genesis 2:5, end; 3:18-19,23; 4:2).

That he may bring forth food out of the earth - "food" or "bread" as the same Hebrew is translated, Psalms 104:15 (Job 28:5).

Verse 15. And wine (that) maketh glad the heart of man - through God's watering, from His upper chambers, the vine from which it is produced. "Man" - Hebrew, 'ªnowsh (H582); frail and dying man. God graciously provides for the weakness of man's mortal frame "wine" as a gladdener, when used in that moderation with which all God's gifts are to be received (Judges 9:13; Proverbs 31:6).

(And) oil to make his face to shine. The three chief products of Canaan, the necessaries and comforts of life there, were corn, wine, and oil. Translate and punctuate as Bottcher, so as to form three pairs of parallel clauses, 'He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service (or else culture) of man ... that He may bring forth bread (food) out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man ... that he may make his face shine with oil, and bread shall strengthen man's heart.' Hengstenberg unnaturally takes the "oil" to be figurative, the oil of gladness (Psalms 45:7), which the "wine" diffuses over the face. So others, 'and wine maketh glad the heart of man more than oil' [the Hebrew preposition, min (H4480)]. He argues that it was not the face, but the head that used to be anointed (Psalms 23:5; Matthew 6:17). Bread and wine are so joined in Psalms 4:7; Genesis 14:18; Genesis 27:28. But it is not likely that mention of the olive, which was put to such varied uses, should be omitted, especially when the Psalmist is speaking of the joy of the feast. The oil perfume though poured upon the head on such occasions, diffused a glow of pleasure over the face by the fragrance. Judges 9:9; Judges 9:12 confirms the head on such occasions, diffused a glow of pleasure over the face by the fragrance. Judges 9:9; Judges 9:12 confirms the view that the oil is literal.

And bread (which) strengtheneth man's heart - (Genesis 18:5.) Already "bread" was mentioned in Psalms 104:15; here its strengthening property is noticed as distinguished from the gladdening effects of wine and oil, which are more of luxuries than necessaries.

Verse 16. The trees of the Lord are full of sap - literally, 'are satisfied;' namely, with rain from the Lord's upper chambers; as in Psalms 104:13 (the same Hebrew), 'the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works;' cf. note. "The trees of the Lord" (for instance, "the cedars of Lebanon") are those which by their greatness proclaim loudly the divine source from which their vigour is supplied. Compare Numbers 24:6 (whence the phrase is derived), "The trees of lign-aloes, (spice trees) which the Lord hath planted;" Psalms 36:6, margin. "The mountains of God" - namely, those which, by their stupendous height, most loudly proclaim the creative power of their Maker, (Psalms 80:10, margin.)

Verse 17. Where the birds make their nests: (as for) the stork, the fir trees (are) her house - both the smaller "birds" and the larger, as "the stork." Not only 'the springs' are beneficial to the birds (Psalms 104:12), but the rain also, by "satisfying" or filing the trees with sap (Psalms 104:16).