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1. Because the use of fresh waters was necessary for man, and necessary it was that man should have it nigh at hand unto him, for the more commodious use, the Lord broke up wells of water in several places, and made brooks and waters, and rivers and floods, like veins in a man's body, to carry from them water along to all habitable places of the earth, where God had appointed men to dwell (ver. 10).

2. Not only where men do dwell, but also where men's ordinary resort is not, the Lord hath set drinking vessels full of water, for the use of travelling men and other creatures, appointed to attend man, and some way to serve his use.

3. For the furnishing of man's house on earth, God hath provided him with parks for beasts to feed in, and trees for fowls and birds to live in, and ponds for fishes, as we will hear afterward; and these beasts and fowls, and singing birds, have their drinking vessels set for them (ver. 11).

4. The Lord hath adorned the habitation of man, with trees growing beside the waters; not only for his own proper use, but also for the use of fowls and singing birds (ver. 12).

5. Where wells and rivers are not, as in hills and high places, it is seen for the most part; there the Lord supplieth the lack of waters, by rain from the clouds. "He watereth the hills from His chambers," that is, from the clouds, wherein as in chambers He hath stored up great waters.

6. The Lord doth not dissolve the clouds all at once, but by little and little maketh them distil smaller or greater drops only.

7. There is no part of the earth, whereupon God bestoweth not so much of the fruit of His operation, as may fill it full of His glory (ver. 13).

8. The grass and herbs, and the divers sorts of them, serving for the use of beasts and men, are worthy of a room in our meditation of God's provident care for man and beast (ver. 14).

9. The Lord's allowance upon man is very large, not only for necessity, but also for delectation (ver. 15).

10. The right use of God's creatures is not to surfeit, and bury the memory of God and of the excellency of man above beasts, in gluttony and drunkenness, but to give him strength and gladness in such a measure as may encourage him cheerfully to serve his Maker.

11. God will have His excellency taken notice of in everything which is great, notable, excellent: upon which ground, great trees are called here, "The trees of the Lord."

12. The Lord hath furnished trees, not only with so much sap as might make them grow; but also with so much sap as might serve man for meat and drink and medicine, and other uses.

13. Among the trees the Lord will have us take notice of the cedars, as of a special plant of His husbandry on the earth, for their height and greatness, and durableness of the timber, and namely of those of Lebanon, designed for the use of His people.

14. It is worthy of our marking, that for the nests of birds He hath provided high trees, where they might breed and lodge, and bring forth their young more safely and securely (ver. 17).

15. It is worthy of our observation for glorifying of God, that God hath taught weak creatures naturally to draw themselves to strong defences; and sundry sorts of them to have their several sorts of refuge (ver. 18).

(D. Dickson.)

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KJV: He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

WEB: He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.