“O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”
The exclamatory statement 'O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures' celebrates the multiplicity and complexity of creation while affirming that all flows from divine wisdom. The verb 'manifold' (rabim) emphasizes the sheer quantity of creative acts; God has made not one world but a multitude of beings and systems. The phrase 'in wisdom' (be-chokmah) attributes the intricate design of creation to divine intelligence; the order and harmony of creation reflect God's wise planning. The phrase 'the earth is full of your creatures' (male-ha'aretz kinyancha) emphasizes abundance and fullness; creation is not sparse but teeming with life. The exclamation addresses God directly, moving from third-person description to apostrophe, intensifying the emotional and devotional force. This verse stands as a pivot point in the psalm, summarizing what has come before while preparing for the concluding meditation. The affirmation that God has made 'them all in wisdom' suggests that the detailed attention to specific creatures and phenomena is itself an exercise in discerning divine wisdom.
Church Fathers on Psalms 104:24
1. ...“Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Let the soul of us all, made one in Christ, say this. “O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly!” Psalm 103:1. Where are You magnified? “Confession and beauty You have put on.” Confess ye, that you may be beautified, that He may put you on. “Clothed with light as a garment” Psalm 103:2. Clothed with His Church, because she is made “light” in Him, who before was darkness in herself, as the apostle says: “You were sometime darkness, but…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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