How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Ps. 104:24)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 104:19-32
“Happy little trees.” The famous phrase from the equally famous American painter, Bob Ross, still makes me smile. His calm voice and vibrant landscapes captivated my brother and me on many long summer afternoons. I marveled at the way his simple brushstrokes called forth mountains, forests, lakes, and snow-covered cabins. His hands were the hands of a skilled artist creating new worlds with each practiced stroke.
Psalm 104 sings of the wonders made by the hands of God. Like a skilled artist, he brought forth the moon and the sun. He created kingly lions and all the beasts of the forest. He poured the vast sea and filled it with the mysterious creatures of the deep. The poet of this psalm recalled the many wonders of the Lord to remind us who God is and why he is worthy of praise. The whole earth and all its creatures are sustained by the mighty hand of God. We are his, for he created us and gives us life each new day.
The Psalms repeatedly declare the glory of God by describing the beauty of the world. As humans we have been awed by the power of the moon and stars, wind and rain, thunder and smoke. The Psalms remind us who is greater. The maker of the moon and sun is our God. May his glory endure forever.
Stand in awe of the glory of God.
Mark Moore is an associate professor of theology at Jessup University (CA) and an associate pastor at Faith Legacy Church in Sacramento, California.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
