Psalm 104

We believe

Part 1

Creeds and liturgies can be strange things, especially to people who are unfamiliar. Yet there is power in the words of the Apostle's Creed - words being shared by millions of believers across the world going all the way back to the early church.

What can we learn about the Apostle's Creed from Psalm 104?

We believe in God the Father

God the Creator

Our Father God has created and provided for us everything that we need. The writer is overwhelmed with praise to his creator.

God provides life and food for all His creatures. He determines their life-cycles and when they die. There is so much of God's glory in creation. The writer sees all this and can do nothing but praise Him. The Psalmist worships God for the simple reason that God is Father and Creator. This small aspect of our Creed, and God's character can lead to so much joy and praise.

An involved God

God is lot just a creator, He is heavily involved in sustaining and operating this world. Like a father who leads and teaches their child. Even things made by the hand of people are ultimately provided by God - food, wine, boats, and more. God has made us to be ingenious and creative people just like Him. We are not as autonomous as we thing, though. We rely on God so much, and sometimes when He is distant we can feel vulnerable and alone. But remember this Psalm, and how God provides for everything we need, even when we don't see it.

How does this transform our life?

What does it mean to believe that God is Father, Creator, and Sustainer?

Live with gratitude

Our lives should be one of gratitude. We should acknowledge God's hand in all we have and thank Him for it. One way to do this is to say grace before a meal. To thank God for the food we eat. Remember that without God we have nothing.

Trust in God

Throughout the Bible there are people who are repeatedly taught to trust in God to provide; the Israelites in the wilderness, the disciples, and many more. They didn't need to trust in their own ability and resources, they needed to trust in God. That trust isn't foolishly throwing away the things we have, but stewarding what we have and trusting in God to sustain and provide. We should be content in what God gives rather than stretching out for more.

Be generous

This creation that God has made brings Him great joy. We who recognise God's generosity in creating the world should act likewise, to bring the joy and praise of living under our Father God to others. Our resources are from God, and we can be the tool He uses to provide for others.

Live in hope

This Psalm ends strangely. The final verse marks a dark side of creation - how humanity rages against this beautiful world with our sin and destruction. We are incompatible with God's intentions.

Yet the answer is not to destroy sinners like that verse mentions. The answer is to restore and rebuild them by removing the sin from their lives. Jesus is the provision from God to serve that purpose.

Romans 8 talks about how the creation longs for God to renew it. To remove the marks of sin from it and make it whole again. Through Jesus we have the hope that God has done that, and one day it will be completed.