All creatures are divinely summoned to worship God as the mighty Author of life.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. (v.5) This verse urges all created beings—celestial and earthly—to offer worship to their Maker. “Praise” in the context of the psalm is a heartfelt response to God’s power, holiness, and authority, because He alone gave existence to everything in the universe. The author highlights that creation exists and thrives by the spoken command of God, an echo of Genesis 1 where God speaks the world into being (John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3). His decree initiated the laws governing the cosmos (Psalm 148:6), displaying His supreme dominion and everlasting rule over all that is made.
Psalms 148 as a whole calls on every part of the created order—angels, celestial bodies, weather systems, animals, and humankind—to unite in glorifying the Lord. This unifying theme resonates elsewhere, where it is declared that God’s name will be exalted in heaven and on earth (Psalm 148:13). Verse 5 emphasizes that because the Lord is the origin of existence, all things owe Him honor. It also points forward to the New Testament portrait of Christ as the sustaining Word of creation (Colossians 1:16), making the call to praise reach ultimate fulfillment in Him.
In many biblical passages, including the psalms, creation’s immediate and joyful obedience serves as a reminder that mankind, too, is invited to yield to the Creator’s authority for our own flourishing. Just as the heavens and the earth abide by His command, so should our hearts—offering thanks and reverence before the One whose mere speech brings forth life, order, and blessing.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 148:5 meaning
Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. (v.5) This verse urges all created beings—celestial and earthly—to offer worship to their Maker. “Praise” in the context of the psalm is a heartfelt response to God’s power, holiness, and authority, because He alone gave existence to everything in the universe. The author highlights that creation exists and thrives by the spoken command of God, an echo of Genesis 1 where God speaks the world into being (John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3). His decree initiated the laws governing the cosmos (Psalm 148:6), displaying His supreme dominion and everlasting rule over all that is made.
Psalms 148 as a whole calls on every part of the created order—angels, celestial bodies, weather systems, animals, and humankind—to unite in glorifying the Lord. This unifying theme resonates elsewhere, where it is declared that God’s name will be exalted in heaven and on earth (Psalm 148:13). Verse 5 emphasizes that because the Lord is the origin of existence, all things owe Him honor. It also points forward to the New Testament portrait of Christ as the sustaining Word of creation (Colossians 1:16), making the call to praise reach ultimate fulfillment in Him.
In many biblical passages, including the psalms, creation’s immediate and joyful obedience serves as a reminder that mankind, too, is invited to yield to the Creator’s authority for our own flourishing. Just as the heavens and the earth abide by His command, so should our hearts—offering thanks and reverence before the One whose mere speech brings forth life, order, and blessing.