Psalm 104:28
When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When You give it to them
This phrase emphasizes the divine provision and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew root here is "natan," which means "to give." It reflects the understanding that all sustenance and blessings come from God. In the historical context of ancient Israel, this would resonate deeply, as the agrarian society depended heavily on the cycles of nature, which they believed were controlled by God. This phrase reminds us of the dependence of all creation on the Creator, highlighting God's role as the ultimate provider.

they gather it up
The act of gathering implies human responsibility and action in response to God's provision. The Hebrew word "asaph" is used here, meaning "to gather" or "to collect." This suggests a partnership between divine provision and human effort. In the scriptural context, it echoes the gathering of manna in the wilderness, where the Israelites had to actively collect what God provided. It serves as a reminder that while God provides, humans are called to be stewards of His gifts.

when You open Your hand
This phrase paints a vivid picture of God's generosity and willingness to bless His creation. The imagery of an open hand is significant, symbolizing abundance and grace. In the Hebrew culture, an open hand was a sign of giving and blessing, contrasting with a closed fist, which would signify withholding. This phrase assures believers of God's readiness to provide and His abundant nature, encouraging trust in His provision.

they are satisfied with good things
The satisfaction mentioned here is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional. The Hebrew word "sava" means "to be satisfied" or "to be filled." This satisfaction comes from the "good things" that God provides, which can be understood as both material and spiritual blessings. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects the idea that true contentment and fulfillment come from God alone. It encourages believers to find their satisfaction in God's provision rather than in worldly pursuits.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the provider and sustainer of all creation. His actions of giving and opening His hand symbolize His generosity and care.

2. Creation (Animals and Humans)
The recipients of God's provision. This verse highlights the dependence of all living beings on God's benevolence for their sustenance.

3. The Act of Gathering
This event signifies the response of creation to God's provision. It is an act of receiving and utilizing what God has provided.
Teaching Points
God as the Ultimate Provider
Recognize that all good things come from God. Our daily sustenance and blessings are a result of His open hand and generosity.

Dependence on God
Just as creation depends on God for provision, we too must rely on Him for our needs. This dependence fosters a relationship of trust and gratitude.

Gratitude for God's Provision
Cultivate a heart of thankfulness for the good things God provides. Acknowledge His hand in both the small and significant blessings in life.

Active Participation in God's Provision
While God provides, we are called to gather and make use of His gifts. This involves stewardship and responsibility in managing what we receive.

Contentment with God's Gifts
Learn to be satisfied with what God provides, understanding that He knows our needs better than we do.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does recognizing God as the provider change your perspective on daily needs and blessings?

2. In what ways can you actively participate in gathering and stewarding the resources God has given you?

3. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for God's provision in your life?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to deepen your dependence on God for your needs?

5. How does understanding God's provision in Psalm 104:28 help you find contentment in your current circumstances?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:29-30
This passage describes God's provision of food for humans and animals, establishing the theme of God as the provider from the beginning of creation.

Matthew 6:26
Jesus speaks about the birds of the air, emphasizing that God provides for them, reinforcing the idea of God's care for all His creation.

James 1:17
This verse speaks of every good and perfect gift coming from above, aligning with the theme of God as the source of all good things.
Gathering God's GiftsJ. Stalker, D.D.Psalm 104:28
God's Giving and Man's GatheringU. R. Thomas.Psalm 104:28
A Hymn of Praise to God in NatureHomilistPsalm 104:1-35
A Psalm of ProvidenceJ. H. Cooke.Psalm 104:1-35
God's Love for Living CreaturesS. Conway Psalm 104:1-35
NatureJ. B. Mozley, D.D.Psalm 104:1-35
Nature's TeachingCanon Barker.Psalm 104:1-35
The Greatness of GodD. Baker, D.D.Psalm 104:1-35
A Threefold Aspect of the Work of CreationD. Moore, M.A.Psalm 104:24-30
God in NatureCanon Duckworth.Psalm 104:24-30
God's WorldC. Kingsley, M.A.Psalm 104:24-30
Perfection in God's WorkH. O. Mackey.Psalm 104:24-30
The Apparent Intentions of Divine WisdomS. Bourn.Psalm 104:24-30
The Manifoldness of BeautyG. B. Austin.Psalm 104:24-30
The Munificence of Nature's GodHomiletic ReviewPsalm 104:24-30
The Spiritual Significance of the UniverseJ. Parker, D.D.Psalm 104:24-30
The Wisdom and Holiness of GodR. Ainslie.Psalm 104:24-30
The Wisdom of GodL. Gaussen.Psalm 104:24-30
The Wonderful Works of God in NatureC. O. Eldridge, B.A.Psalm 104:24-30
Wisdom Displayed in All God's WorksT. De Witt Talmage.Psalm 104:24-30
Divine SufficiencyA. Maclaren, D.D.Psalm 104:27-28
How the Lower Creatures are FedHudson.Psalm 104:27-28
Sufficiency for All Varieties of ExperienceA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 104:27-28
The Bountifulness of God in His ProvidenceD. Roberts, D.D.Psalm 104:27-28
The Waiting World SuppliedC. O. EIdridge, B.A.Psalm 104:27-28
People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Filled, Full, Gather, Givest, Open, Openest, Satisfied
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 104:28

     1265   hand of God

Psalm 104:1-35

     4007   creation, and God
     8662   meditation

Psalm 104:27-28

     1330   God, the provider
     5167   mouth

Library
The Glory of the Trinity
Eversley, 1868. St Mary's Chester, 1871. Trinity Sunday. Psalm civ. 31, 33. "The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: The Lord shall rejoice in his works. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." This is Trinity Sunday, on which we think especially of the name of God. A day which, to a wise man, may well be one of the most solemn, and the most humiliating days of the whole year. For is it not humiliating to look stedfastly,
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

A Whitsun Sermon
PSALM civ. 24, 27-30. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. . . . These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

Of Good Angels
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. 1:14. 1. Many of the ancient Heathens had (probably from tradition) some notion of good and evil angels. They had some conception of a superior order of beings, between men and God, whom the Greeks generally termed demons, (knowing ones,) and the Romans, genii. Some of these they supposed to be kind and benevolent, delighting in doing good; others, to be malicious and cruel, delighting in
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Lessons from Nature
This prejudice against the beauties of the material universe reminds me of the lingering love to Judaism, which acted like a spell upon Peter of old. When the sheet knit at the four corners descended before him, and the voice said, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat," he replied that he had not eaten anything that was common or unclean. He needed that the voice should speak to him from heaven again and again before he would fully learn the lesson, "What God hath cleansed that call not thou common." The
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Meditation on God
NOTE: This edition of this sermon is taken from an earlier published edition of Spurgeon's 1858 message. The sermon that appears in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 46, was edited and abbreviated somewhat. For edition we have restored the fuller text of the earlier published edition, while retaining a few of the editorial refinements of the Met Tab edition. "My meditation of him shall be sweet."--Psalm 104:34. DAVID, certainly, was not a melancholy man. Eminent as he was for his piety and
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900

Seventh Sunday after Trinity. O Lord, How Manifold are Thy Works; in Wisdom Hast Thou Made them All; the Earth is Full of Thy Riches.
O Lord, how manifold are Thy works; in wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy riches. Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud [104]Paul Gerhardt. 1659. trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855 Go forth, my heart, and seek delight In all the gifts of God's great might, These pleasant summer hours: Look how the plains for thee and me Have decked themselves most fair to see, All bright and sweet with flowers. The trees stand thick and dark with leaves, And earth o'er all here dust now weaves
Catherine Winkworth—Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year

The Confessions of St. Augustin Index of Subjects
Abraham's bosom, 131 and note, [1]192 (note) Academics Augustin has a leaning towards the philosophy of the, [2]86 they doubted everything, [3]86, [4]88 Academies, the three, [5]86 (note) Actions of the patriarchs, [6]65 Adam averted death by partaking of the tree of life, [7]73 (note) the first and second, [8]162 (note) Adeodatus, Augustin's son helps his father in writing The Master, [9]134 and note he is baptized by Ambrose, [10]134 (note) Adversity the blessing of the New Testament, prosperity
St. Augustine—The Confessions and Letters of St

O Worship the King, all Glorious Above
[978]Hanover: William Croft, 1708 Psalm 104 Robert Grant, 1833 O Worship the King, all glorious above! O gratefully sing his power and his love! Our shield and defender, the Ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise. O tell of his might! O sing of his grace! Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space. His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, And dark is his path on the wings of the storm. The earth, with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, thy power hath founded
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA

The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual Government of the World.
1. The invisible and incomprehensible essence of God, to a certain extent, made visible in his works. 2. This declared by the first class of works--viz. the admirable motions of the heavens and the earth, the symmetry of the human body, and the connection of its parts; in short, the various objects which are presented to every eye. 3. This more especially manifested in the structure of the human body. 4. The shameful ingratitude of disregarding God, who, in such a variety of ways, is manifested within
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

How to Use the Present Life, and the Comforts of It.
The divisions of this chapter are,--I. The necessity and usefulness of this doctrine. Extremes to be avoided, if we would rightly use the present life and its comforts, sec. 1, 2. II. One of these extremes, viz, the intemperance of the flesh, to be carefully avoided. Four methods of doing so described in order, sec. 3-6. 1. BY such rudiments we are at the same time well instructed by Scripture in the proper use of earthly blessings, a subject which, in forming a scheme of life, is by no mean to be
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit as Revealed in his Names.
At least twenty-five different names are used in the Old and New Testaments in speaking of the Holy Spirit. There is the deepest significance in these names. By the careful study of them, we find a wonderful revelation of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. I. The Spirit. The simplest name by which the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Bible is that which stands at the head of this paragraph--"The Spirit." This name is also used as the basis of other names, so we begin our study with this.
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

The Creaturely Man.
"The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."-- Job xxxiii. 4. The Eternal and Ever-blessed God comes into vital touch with the creature by an act proceeding not from the Father nor from the Son, but from the Holy Spirit. Translated by sovereign grace from death unto life, God's children are conscious of this divine fellowship; they know that it consists not in inward agreement of disposition or inclination, but in the mysterious touch of God upon their spiritual
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Of Confirmation.
It is surprising that it should have entered any one's mind to make a Sacrament of Confirmation out of that laying on of hands which Christ applied to little children, and by which the apostles bestowed the Holy Spirit, ordained presbyters, and healed the sick; as the Apostle writes to Timothy: "Lay hands suddenly on no man." (1 Tim. v. 22.) Why not also make a confirmation out of the sacrament of bread, because it is written: "And when he had received meat, he was strengthened" (Acts ix. 19); or
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Christian's Peace and the Christian's Consistency
PHILIPPIANS i. 21-30 He will be spared to them--Spiritual wealth of the paragraph--Adolphe Monod's exposition--Charles Simeon's testimony--The equilibrium and its secret--The intermediate bliss--He longs for their full consistency--The "gift" of suffering Ver. 21. +For to me, to live is Christ+; the consciousness and experiences of living, in the body, are so full of Christ, my supreme Interest, that CHRIST sums them all up; +and to die+, the act of dying,[1] +is gain+, for it will usher me in
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

The Principle of Life in the Creature.
"By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent."-- Job xxvi. 13. We have seen that the work of the Holy Spirit consists in leading all creation to its destiny, the final purpose of which is the glory of God. However, God's glory in creation appears in various degrees and ways. An insect and a star, the mildew on the wall and the cedar on Lebanon, a common laborer and a man like Augustine, are all the creatures of God; yet how dissimilar they are, and how varied
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Epistle xvii. To Felix, Bishop of Messana.
To Felix, Bishop of Messana. To our most reverend brother, the Bishop Felix, Gregory, servant of the servants of God [246] . Our Head, which is Christ, to this end has willed us to be His members, that through His large charity and faithfulness He might make us one body in Himself, to whom it befits us so to cling that, since without Him we can do nothing, through Him we may be enabled to be what we are called. From the citadel of the Head let nothing divide us, lest, if we refuse to be His members,
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Host of Heaven and of Earth.
"The Spirit of God hath made me."--Job xxxiii. 4. Understanding somewhat the characteristic note of the work of the Holy Spirit, let us see what this work was and is and shall be. The Father brings forth, the Son disposes and arranges, the Holy Spirit perfects. There is one God and Father of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things; but what does the Scripture say of the special work the Holy Spirit did in creation and is still doing? For the sake of order we examine
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Having spoken of the general notion of blessedness, I come next to consider the subjects of this blessedness, and these our Saviour has deciphered to be the poor in spirit, the mourners, etc. But before I touch upon these, I shall attempt a little preface or paraphrase upon this sermon of the beatitudes. 1 Observe the divinity in this sermon, which goes beyond all philosophy. The philosophers use to say that one contrary expels another; but here one contrary begets another. Poverty is wont to expel
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Material Universe.
There are many who think of the work of the Holy Spirit as limited to man. But God reveals to us in His Word that the Holy Spirit's work has a far wider scope than this. We are taught in the Bible that the Holy Spirit has a threefold work in the material universe. I. The creation of the material universe and of man is effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit. We read in Ps. xxxiii. 6, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." We
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

How those are to be Admonished with whom Everything Succeeds According to their Wish, and those with whom Nothing Does.
(Admonition 27.) Differently to be admonished are those who prosper in what they desire in temporal matters, and those who covet indeed the things that are of this world, but yet are wearied with the labour of adversity. For those who prosper in what they desire in temporal matters are to be admonished, when all things answer to their wishes, lest, through fixing their heart on what is given, they neglect to seek the giver; lest they love their pilgrimage instead of their country; lest they turn
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Deity of the Holy Spirit.
In the preceding chapter we have seen clearly that the Holy Spirit is a Person. But what sort of a Person is He? Is He a finite person or an infinite person? Is He God? This question also is plainly answered in the Bible. There are in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments five distinct and decisive lines of proof of the Deity of the Holy Spirit. I. Each of the four distinctively Divine attributes is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. What are the distinctively Divine attributes? Eternity, omnipresence,
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

On the Symbols of the Essence' and Coessential. '
We must look at the sense not the wording. The offence excited is at the sense; meaning of the Symbols; the question of their not being in Scripture. Those who hesitate only at coessential,' not to be considered Arians. Reasons why coessential' is better than like-in-essence,' yet the latter may be interpreted in a good sense. Explanation of the rejection of coessential' by the Council which condemned the Samosatene; use of the word by Dionysius of Alexandria; parallel variation in the use of Unoriginate;
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

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