What is the meaning of Psalm 104:19?

He made

“God created” is not a poetic flourish; it is a statement of fact (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3). The psalmist begins by assigning authorship of the cosmos to the Lord Himself.

• The verse reminds us that the physical universe did not emerge by chance.

• Every part of creation testifies to a personal Designer (Psalm 24:1; Colossians 1:16).

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the moon

The moon is singled out first, highlighting its importance in God’s timetable (Genesis 1:16; Psalm 89:37).

• Its predictable phases are a nightly proclamation of God’s order.

• It governs tides, night illumination, and agricultural rhythms—each a quiet sermon on the Lord’s faithful oversight (Job 38:31-33).

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to mark the seasons

Scripture states, “Let there be lights … to mark seasons” (Genesis 1:14). The Hebrew calendar, Israel’s festivals, and even modern farming all follow this built-in clock (Leviticus 23:4; Daniel 2:21).

• “Seasons” includes appointed times for worship, rest, and work.

• God’s sovereignty extends to history’s schedule (Acts 17:26); nothing falls outside His planning.

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the sun

The psalmist pivots to daylight. The larger light rules the day (Genesis 1:16) and “pours forth speech” about God’s glory (Psalm 19:4-6).

• Its rising warms and sustains life (Malachi 4:2).

• The same sun shines on the righteous and the wicked, underscoring common grace (Matthew 5:45).

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knows when to set

The sun’s “knowledge” is the poet’s way of saying it moves by divine decree (Ecclesiastes 1:5; Job 38:12).

• Every sunset is a daily reminder of God’s reliability (James 1:17).

• Even the miraculous pause of the sun in Joshua 10:13 required the Lord’s direct command, proving the normal order is His constant will (Isaiah 45:12).

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summary

Psalm 104:19 roots our trust in the unchanging Creator who fixed celestial bodies as faithful timekeepers. The moon oversees seasons, the sun governs days, and both obey His voice without fail. In observing their steady rhythms, we are invited to rest in the even steadier faithfulness of the God who set them in place.