Creation Account in Psalm
In a Psalm of worship and praise, an anonymous psalmist recorded an account of creation (Psalm 104) that mirrors the Creation account in Job, and lends us a few new insights that fit quite nicely with the Geocreationist view of Genesis 1.Â
Recall that on Day 1, the last meteor strike of 3.9 billion years ago had vaporized the ocean. It was raining back down, and without any further meteors en route the atmosphere was beginning to reform. The sun’s light was beginning to disperse through the young sky, and could be seen somewhat even within the rain beneath the clouds.
 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
      O LORD my God, you are very great;
      you are clothed with splendor and majesty.Â
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
      he stretches out the heavens like a tent
Apparently, Jesus relished the light, as it grew brighter and brighter on Day 1. In the meantime, as the rain continued and Jesus entered Day 2, the clouds’ lowest reach got higher and higher, stretching out the heavens to begin forming the firmament.
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
      He makes the clouds his chariot
      and rides on the wings of the wind.
What a graphic picture! Caught up in the rain and the wind, Jesus rode the clouds like a chariot. But let’s not pass this up so quickly! The Holy Spirit has a habit of manifesting as a cloud when Jesus is around (Exodus 33:9-11a, Matthew 17:2-8).  Because we know that Jesus was at Creation (Proverbs 8:27) and the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2), it only makes sense then that the Holy Spirit was the cloud Jesus riding, like a chariot “on the wings of the wind.”
Now, at this time, the earth’s crust was still experiencing a lot of volcanic activity, though it was entirely underwater. Still, the methane and CO2 that escaped into the atmosphere kept making the light brighter and brighter…
 4 He makes winds his messengers,
      flames of fire his servants.
 …and the crust formed from this same continual volcanic activity, would later save as the foundations of the earth.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
      it can never be moved.
As described in Proverbs 8:28’s account of Day 2, the foundations of the deep were strengthened, poised for Day 3 when plate tectonics would begin and the crust would break into land masses and thrust out of the water. Though this constitutes “movement”, the meaning of verse 5 is that the crust would never fall out from under the creation and let it fall… all creation rests upon it securely.
Though eventually it would become land on Day 3, the foundations of the world started out forming mountains underneath the the ocean.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
      the waters stood above the mountains.
But, eventually, the crust broke the water’s surface… the waters had no chance! As the land flowed up, the water flowed down, making rivers, lakes, streams, and springs.
 7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
      at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; 8 they flowed over the mountains,
      they went down into the valleys,
      to the place you assigned for them. 9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
      never again will they cover the earth. 10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
      it flows between the mountains.
The Psalmist continues on about the water and the mountains, writing of their use and replenishment.Â
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
      the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The birds of the air nest by the waters;
      they sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
      the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
On Day 3 as well, God made the plants, fruits, and vegetables. The Psalmist writes of their creation and their use.Â
 14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
      and plants for man to cultivate—
      bringing forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens the heart of man,
      oil to make his face shine,
      and bread that sustains his heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are well watered,
      the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 There the birds make their nests;
      the stork has its home in the pine trees. 18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
      the crags are a refuge for the coneys.
The Psalmist then moves to Day 4, the purpose of the sun and moon, and their use.Â
19 The moon marks off the seasons,
      and the sun knows when to go down. 20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
      and all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21 The lions roar for their prey
      and seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
      they return and lie down in their dens. 23 Then man goes out to his work,
      to his labor until evening.
Day 5, God created the sea creaturesÂ
24 How many are your works, O LORD!
      In wisdom you made them all;
      the earth is full of your creatures. 25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
      teeming with creatures beyond number—
      living things both large and small. 26 There the ships go to and fro,
      and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. 27 These all look to you
      to give them their food at the proper time. 28 When you give it to them,
      they gather it up;
      when you open your hand,
      they are satisfied with good things. 29 When you hide your face,
      they are terrified;
      when you take away their breath,
      they die and return to the dust. 30 When you send your Spirit,
      they are created,
      and you renew the face of the earth.
Interestingly, the Psalmist does not discuss Day 6. Perhaps that is because everything created on Day 6 has been discussed already; though not discussed in the context of their own creation, they were mentioned as recipients of the water, the land, and the plant life. Mankind was even mentioned, for his labor, and use of the sun to mark his time.Â
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
      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, O my soul.
      Praise the LORD.
January 21st, 2007 at 3:42 pm
[…] Then when did God experience the evening? Answer: when He wanted it to. IN fact, as discussed in the creation account of the Psalms, God ”makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 104:3b) Apparently, god hovering during His work, and rode the clouds into the evening and then on into the morning as it suited Him. […]
January 25th, 2007 at 1:15 am
[…] Consider that Genesis 1:2 actually says that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Hmmm… clouds hover, and we’ve seen hints that Holy Spirit often appears as such. Is that what happened here? I think the question is answered by Psalm 104:3, “He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind.” As I discuss in “Creation Account in Psalm“, this is a description of Days 1 and 2, when Jesus the Creator (John 1:1-3; Proverbs 8:27-30) was used the Holy Spirit for transport during Creation. […]