Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 104:32
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
32. Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth,
Toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.
May this manifestation of God in Nature ever continue! May Jehovah never cease to rejoice in His works as He rejoiced when He pronounced all things to be very good (Gen 1:31; Pro 8:31). A look, a touch are enough to remind the earth of the awful power of its Creator, Who if He willed could annihilate as easily as He created. The Psalmist has in mind Amo 9:5 (cp. above Psa 104:3), Exo 19:18; Psa 104:32 b is imitated in Psa 144:5, Psa 104:33 in Psa 146:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth – There is great sublimity in this expression, as indicating the power and the majesty of God. He has only to look upon his works, and they stand in awe and tremble. The most mighty and fearful convulsions of nature occur as if they were the mere effect of Gods looking on the earth. Compare Hab 3:10 – The mountains saw thee, and they trembled.
He toucheth the hills, and they smoke – That is, as Mount Sinai did when God came down upon it. Exo 19:18. It is as if the hills were conscious of his presence, and were awed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 104:32
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth.
God can shake the world
Earthquakes certainly teach us that human existence in this world is entirely dependent upon God. Probably no natural experience impresses the mind as completely with the sense of utter insecurity. A traveller in South America gives a graphic account of his own helplessness during one of these terrible convulsions. He was in the street when the ground began to rock under his feet. His first impulse was to seek refuge inside a house, and it tumbled into ruins before him. He turned toward the shore, and there was the sea tossing and foaming as if in a storm. He glanced at the hills, but even they were shaken like trees with the wind. All he could do was to stand still, and look towards heaven, which alone was unmoved amidst the upheavings of the globe. He did well, for in God only is perfect safety. All other refuges save His mercy and power are refuges of lies. But none need fear whom He protects. One gladly recalls the remark of the good old lady mentioned by Mr. Spurgeon in a sermon. When her neighbours were in mortal terror, owing to certain vibrations of the ground,, she remained quite calm. Are you not afraid? they asked her. Afraid? No! was her answer; I rejoice to know I have a God who can shake the world. (Sunday Companion.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 32. He looketh on the earth] Even the look of God terrifies all created nature!
He toucheth the hills] So easy is it for God to burn up the earth and the worlds thereof, that even his touch kindles the mountains into flames! See Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli, c. these are ignited by the touch of God. How majestic are these figures!
The renewal of the earth, and re-creation of deceased animals, shall take place when he shall shake terribly the heavens and the earth; when they shall be wrapped together as a scroll, and the earth and its works be dissolved, that is, after the general convulsion and conflagration of the world.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This is a further illustration of Gods powerful providence over all the creatures, and their dependence upon him; as when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive, so one the contrary one angry look or touch of his upon the hills or earth makes them tremble and smoke, as once Sinai did when God appeared in it. And this consideration he may possibly suggest to enforce the foregoing exhortation of glorifying God, because if we do not give him the glory due to his name, he call quickly right himself, and destroy us and all his works.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth,…. As Sinai did when he descended on it, Ps 68:8, to which the allusion seems to be; and a look from him, a severe one, a frowning one, will make the inhabitants of the earth to tremble; a providential look, sending famine, pestilence or the sword among them. A displeased look will make the hearts of his own children tremble, as no doubt Peter’s did, when the Lord looked upon him, and he remembered his word; and if a look, much more a word, an awful word, as his voice in the law, pronouncing such cursed as keep it not; and especially the tremendous sentence he will pronounce on the wicked at the last day,
go, ye cursed, c. and if a look and a word are so terrible, what will be the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger upon those who have refused to give him glory? For the words seem to carry in them a reason why he should be glorified, taken from the consequence of not glorifying him, who has such a majesty in his looks, such a terror in his countenance, and such power in his hands.
He toucheth the hills, and they smoke as Sinai likewise did, when he was upon it, Ex 19:18, and as other hills do, when touched with lightning; the tops of mountains, the higher they are, the sooner and the more they smoke u. God, with a touch of his hand, can set mountains on fire, open “volcanos”, and cause them to burn for years together; as Etna, Vesuvius, Hecla, and others: and how easily can he set on fire the course of nature, burn the world, and all that is in it! It is but touching it, and it takes fire immediately: this he can as easily do as a man can light a torch or a candle; and as easily can he destroy sinners with the fire of his wrath, or cast them into everlasting fire, with the devil and his angels, which will burn to the lowest hell; and what are hills and mountains, or the greatest personages on earth, if he does but touch them, or lay his hand upon them in wrath? They are crushed as the moth; they are nothing before our great Zerubbabel.
u “Montis vicina cacumina coelo—-Tanto “magis edita fumant”, Lucret. de Rerum Natura, l. 6. v. 458, 459.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(32) Trembleth.With the praise is united something of awe and fear, since the majesty and power of Him who made the world is so great. Its very existence is dependent on His will, and a glance, a touch from Him would be enough to shake it to its foundations and consume it. For the smoky mountain tops, comp. Psa. 144:5, and see Note, Psa. 148:8.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
Ver. 32. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth ] This must be considered, that God may be as well feared as loved and praised.
He toucheth the hills, and they smoke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
looketh: Psa 77:16, Psa 97:4, Psa 97:5, Psa 114:7, Isa 64:2, Jer 4:23-26, Jer 5:22, Amo 8:8, Nah 1:5, Nah 1:6, Hab 3:5, Hab 3:6, Hab 3:10, Rev 20:11
he toucheth: Psa 50:3, Psa 144:5, Exo 19:18, Isa 64:1, Isa 64:2, Rev 19:3
Reciprocal: Exo 14:24 – looked unto Psa 18:8 – went Psa 60:2 – made Jer 10:10 – at
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 104:32. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth, &c. Unable to bear his frown. This is a further illustration of Gods powerful providence. As when he affords his favour to creatures, they live and thrive; so, on the contrary, one angry look or touch of his, upon the hills or earth, makes them tremble or smoke, as once Sinai did when God appeared on it.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they {r} smoke.
(r) God’s merciful face gives strength to the earth, but his severe countenance burns the mountains.