Hebrew Poetry..has this got a deeper meaning?

[lokp]

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

has this got a deeper meaning than the joy of poetry?

 

[Sower]

37 minutes ago, lokp said:

has this got a deeper meaning than the joy of poetry?

"The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent"
Psalm 104:2

God is light!

Quote;
"This Bible passage stands as one of the most poetic views of God in all of scripture. “The Lord wraps Himself in light”. That’s a very beautiful thought. Beauty belongs to God, yet this does not represent a physical look at God. It’s a look at His character. God’s character is beautiful, glorious and radiant. Each sunset serves as a reminder pointing us to God’s glory and His beauty"

[Michael37]

11 minutes ago, lokp said:

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

has this got a deeper meaning than the joy of poetry?

 

Hi lokp, Yes, there is a deeper meaning than the joy of poetry here. Not all poetry expresses or invokes joy so we rely heavily on the imagery that is used to get the meaning, intended or otherwise, since it is as permissible for the reader and not just the writer to decide what a poem is saying.

Here there is an emphasis on clothing and covering. What does this mean to you?  

The Psalmist is drawing on his own experience of putting on a garment so as to be covered and clothed, and having curtains that behave in a certain way, spreading out to serve their purpose. This personal experience is transferred in a grand parallel to things that describe God and His great works. 

The imagery in all 35 verses is rich in observations from nature and experience. 

Psa 104:1-6  Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty,  (2)  Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.  (3)  He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,  (4)  Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.  (5)  You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever,  (6)  You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains.

[lokp]

58 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Here there is an emphasis on clothing and covering. What does this mean to you?  

modesty, warmth, enabling....i am from cambridge bro!

[lokp]

1 hour ago, Michael37 said:

as permissible for the reader and not just the writer to decide what a poem is saying.

that is like art is also subjective......peotry/psalmist is  drawing a picture of God's grace/majesty

[JohnR7]

7 hours ago, lokp said:

has this got a deeper meaning than the joy of poetry?

Check out Biblehub. There are some commentaries there. https://biblehub.com/psalms/104-2.htm

[JohnDB]

It's poetry about the sovereignty of God over the world we live in. 

It's saying that God can do unimaginable things easily. It's fairly easy to put on clothes...but it's a lot more difficult to get a hold of a beam of light...but God has these beams under control and has woven them into a garment for himself.

 

Stretching out the heavens as if he was unfurling a tent?

That's a huge God. 

Beams on the waters...

This is where most don't get the message...

The beams/foundations stay put because that's what God said for them to do.  Water is a type or symbol for laws, rules, or practices. 

God's words/speech always forms laws...be it over the natural order or the future. It is always truth and the way things are.  Omnipotence is a very powerful thing. 

 

Now if we could read the Hebrew itself you could see the poetry of the piece as well. 

[johnthebaptist]

12 hours ago, lokp said:

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

has this got a deeper meaning than the joy of poetry?

 

I suspect you'll find some insight here.

[Michael37]

11 hours ago, JohnDB said:

Water is a type or symbol for laws, rules, or practices. 

Can you elaborate on why you think this, John. How does water pass the test for typology or symbolism with regard to laws, rules, or practices?

There is a connection between these verses with both citing God's relationship to the waters.

Gen 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Psa 104:3  Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind:

[JohnDB]

The word "moved" is an approximation of the Hebrew...there really isn't an equivalent. 

But basically it's trying to show that God chose the natural order of things....the laws of physics that govern the universe. 

 

"The Earth was formed out of water by water" was said by Peter.

Basically a reference to God speaking things into existence.