under God's tent

 

From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Psalm 104:13

This psalm is a wonderful worship song themed upon the glory of God as it is displayed in the created universe. It marvels at what God has done as it is seen in our world. It uses beautiful poetic imagery to grab our attention and focus it on God's wisdom and love as it is known in creation.

The song opens with the image of God clothed in light, pitching the stars of the universe out as His tent. From the dazzling array of the starry night, God controls the earth below utilizing clouds, winds, lightning, and storms to do His bidding like messengers for a king. The song then moves to geographic wonders, pondering the beauty of the deep seas as well as the majesty of mountains on the landscape.

From here, this creation song extols the ecosystems God has designed, elaborating delightfully on watersheds running down from the high mountains to eventually water the entire land and meet the needs of wildlife and humanity. From these streams food then springs up to care of our needs, sustain vineyards for gladdening wine, keep presses for oil busy, and grow grain in our fields for our daily bread.

From seas teeming with fish, to trees, fields, and streams where wildlife thrives, all of this beauty under God's tent brings Him glory and praise! Humanity that sings this song will want to care for this beauty very carefully, for it honors God to care for His creation well.