Wednesday 18th January
Read Psalm 104:31-35
“May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works –
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Praise the Lord.” (NIVUK)
The psalm finishes with a final meditation on the permanence of creation. Note the repeated phrases speaking of time: ‘endure for ever’ (v31a), ‘all my life; as long as I live’ (v33) ‘vanish; be no more’ (v35). Those firm foundations spoken of at the beginning of the psalm and not so firm when compared with the mere glance of the Lord. They melt at His touch. Just as He made the earth and heavens, He can as easily unmake them – everything relies on His continued upholding of His works.
The fragility of the world when compared with the surety of God is mirrored by His images. They will sing to the Lord and praise Him, but only whilst they have breath. They are as impermanent as creation but will praise their faithful Creator all the days of their lives.
What looks like a discordant note in a psalm that meditates on the creation with the call for sinners to vanish is not as out of place as it first seems – particularly considering the narrative in Genesis 2 and 3. The impermanence the psalmist is reflecting on as he comes to the end of his poem suggests that the great Maker of heaven and earth can just as easily recreate those heavens and earth – re-establish them without sin. The consequence would be no place for sinners. The psalmist looks forward to that new creation when everything is as it should be.
The psalmist knows, as does Peter, that praise is the only response to a God as powerful and gracious as the one we serve. Consider Peter’s words. They form a fitting conclusion that mirrors this psalm.
“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:16-19) (NIVUK)
Commit yourself to this faithful Creator, continue to do good, just as He continues to do good and upholds the goodness of His creation.
