When I was teaching English in Quy Nhon, Vietnam, a typhoon hit the coast not far from us. Curiously (and foolishly), I walked down to the beach to see the aftereffects. The wind howled. Large waves rolled and crashed. The scene was beautiful, powerful...and terrifying. I beat a hasty retreat.

At that moment, I recognized that nature was far beyond my control. But it’s never beyond the Creator’s control. Psalm 104 expresses God’s greatness with a clothing metaphor: He is “clothed with splendor and majesty” (v. 1). Other translations replace “clothed” with “robed,” more clearly highlighting the theme of royalty. The images that follow use aspects of creation to paint a dynamic picture of His kingship and glory.

Every part of creation belongs to God and brings Him glory (vv. 2–4). Light is like His garment. The skies are like a tent or tabernacle for Him. The clouds are His chariot. The winds are His messengers. Flames of fire are His servants. These are the basic elements of the natural world. Everything is under His command.

God’s process of creating the world is awesome and brings Him glory (vv. 5–9). He set the earth on its foundations. He covered it with water as if putting a garment on it. He gave it form, dividing the water from the land (see Gen. 1:9–10). After the worldwide Flood, He did it again, guaranteeing that such a deluge would not be repeated (v. 9). We see His power, creativity, order, and governance.

When we interact with creation, this should be our template for responding: Whatever we see, God made. Whatever we behold, He controls. If it’s beautiful, God was the artist. If it’s awesome, God gets the glory. He’s the Creator and King over every atom of it!

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