Why Did God Create Us To Glorify Him?

Question:

The Bible says that angels are glorifying God. Why did God need to create us to glorify Him, if He already had angels doing that?

Answer:

Thank you for your question. You've asked a very good question.

The vast majority of times angels are mentioned in scripture they are described as delivering messages from God or doing something that God has told them to do. Angels were primarily created to serve God. The word "angel" means messenger.

One of the actions angels are commanded to do is praise God. For example:

Psalm 148:2 - "Praise him, all you angels; give praise, all you hosts."

But, I cannot imagine any living being in the presence of God who would not be praising God. Angels do not need to be commanded to praise God. However, there are only a few verses that describe angels praising or glorifying God, such as:

Luke 2:13 - "And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'"

Luke 15:10 - "In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Revelation 4:8 - "And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.'"

Revelation 5:11-13 - "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.' And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'”

Revelation 7:11 - "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.' And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, 'Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.'”

What we see are angels glorifying God because of what God has done to glorify Himself through humanity. In Luke 2:13 they glorify God because He has sent a savior. In Luke 15:10 they glorify God because He has saved a sinner through the sacrifice of His Son.

The verses in Revelation are the same, but what is happening is covered by 4:8 through 5:13.

Revelation 4:8 begins a great hymn of praise that continues in chapter 5. Overall this is a hymn of creation and redemption. It starts with God's holiness -- His complete separation from sin. God's holiness is recognized throughout scripture, but in this case His holiness is shown through His judgement (as seen as the hymn progresses). Next 4:8 praises God as "almighty" - a term that means God has no weakness and can do anything without effort. God is able to save us.

Revelation 5:11-13. As the hymn builds to its conclusion the numbers of beings praising God have increased to a great multitude and then to include all living creatures. The praise, as the hymn concludes, is focused on God and praising Him for sending the Son as the sacrificial lamb.

Giving glory is not just saying words of praise. Glory comes from action. God is glorified the most because of what He did. He sacrificed His only Son, to save His enemies (us). Christ died to pay the penalty we have earned and deserved. Christ was innocent and sinless. Yet God punish Him in our place. That is why every time a sinner repents the angels rejoice and praise God. God is glorified because of what He did -- because of His love, mercy and grace, all of which we do not deserve.

Angels praise God because of what God did to save us and for God's justice in punishing sinners. Without humanity, God would not have a way to demonstrate His grace, mercy, righteousness and justice.

Steve Move To Assurance
www.MoveToAssurance.org

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