When reading through the Psalms, an obvious question to ask is “Why do we worship a God who needs nothing?” From a human point of view, it seems downright egocentric of God to demand our praise. As Sam Storms puts it, “We are threatened with a picture of God in which he appears as little better than a vain woman demanding compliments.”
C.S. Lewis also grappled with this problem, which he deals with in his book, “Reflections on the Psalms”. Part of the answer to this problem came to Lewis when he realized that “it is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates his presence to men.” When we give ourself and our praise to God, He gives himself back to us. Perhaps we are to worship, because not doing so denies us of the greatest delight in the universe.
“Perhaps we are to worship, because not doing so denies us of the greatest delight in the universe.”
Here is how Lewis puts it:
“But the most obvious fact about praise — whether of God or anything — strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honour. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless . . . shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it.
The world rings with praise — lovers praising their mistresses [Romeo praising Juliet and vice versa], readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game — praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars. . . . Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible. . . . I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: “Isn’t she lovely? Wasn’t it glorious? Don’t you think that magnificent?” The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about.
My whole, more general, difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can’t help doing, about everything else we value.”
“As we explore His depths, we encounter fullness of joy.”
What Lewis is saying is that God desires our greatest good. And what greater good is there in the universe than God himself? He desires our worship not out of conceit, but out of an understanding that He is the fountain of all joy, peace, and fulfillment. As we explore His depths, we encounter fullness of joy.
So God’s seeking of our praise is not a weak vanity, but a strong self-giving love.
“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
