Part Two: Affirming God’s Majesty In Creation: A Literary And Descriptive Analysis Of Psalm 104 -- By: Daniel T. Lioy

Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 24:1 (Sep 2017)
Article: Part Two: Affirming God’s Majesty In Creation: A Literary And Descriptive Analysis Of Psalm 104
Author: Daniel T. Lioy


Part Two: Affirming God’s Majesty In Creation: A Literary And Descriptive Analysis Of Psalm 104

Dan Lioy

Abstract

This journal article is the second in a two-part series that adopts as its rationale the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The current essay undertakes a literary and descriptive analysis of Psalm 104, using as its incentive the second two of five well-known solas arising from the 95 theses Martin Luther (1483-1546) published in Wittenburg, Germany, in 1517. The second in the pentad emphasizes that Scripture is the fountainhead of divine revelation (in Latin, sola Scriptura). To that end, when the structure and content of Psalm 104 are examined, attentive readers discern several possible intertextual connections of a Christological nature between the ode and the New Testament. In turn, this realization draws attention to the third sola in the pentad, namely, the centrality of the Son in the Father’s redemptive plan (in Latin, solus Christus).

1. Introduction

As noted in the preceding journal article dealing with Psalm 148, 1 the year 2017 commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, Martin Luther published his 95 Theses in Wittenburg, Germany.2 In turn, these eventually gave rise to the following five well-known solas (in Latin) that ministers of the Gospel have used as guidelines in their interpretation of Scripture:

  1. Soli Deo gloria: to God alone be glory
  2. Sola Scriptura: Scripture alone
  3. Solus Christus: Christ alone
  4. Sola fide: faith alone
  5. Sola gratia: grace alone

The second in the pentad draws attention to the primacy of scripture. On the one hand, the Reformers affirmed that when studying scripture,

there is value in engaging various secondary sources of knowledge from the metaphysical and physical realms of existence; on the other hand, God’s Word is given the foremost position of importance in the theological enterprise.

The third sola in the pentad spotlights the centrality of the Son in the Father’s redemptive plan. This emphasis is borne out in a literary and descriptive analysis of Psalm 104.3 Specifically, a...

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