By asking that it should be so, we show ourselves to be completely at one with the Lord in all his purposes. We give our wholehearted assent to the fact that he knows altogether what is best for himself and we wish only what his wisdom has already determined to do. This desire for God’s glory is expressed not as a formality but from the depths of the heart. It perfectly aligns those who will dwell in heaven, so that all look to him as the head, and receive their direction and significance from him. Here also on earth, Christians do not glorify themselves but look away from themselves and give all the glory to God. When he reigns and when he is the centre of all praise then all is in order. Love for God and praise to him is what unites all in heaven and provides the basis of all fellowship between believers on earth.
We are convinced that there is no greater good than that God should exalt his name above every name for he is the highest good. It is a full answer to Satan who cynically refuses to believe that any serve God except for selfish reasons. Believers glorify God even though they face the kind of suffering that Peter has been referring to. Satan has dared to impugn the character of God and cast doubt upon the goodness of God, but the willing worship of the redeemed will give their eternal verdict that Satan was wrong. The vindication of the Lord’s goodness is part of the purpose of the plan of redemption.
Only God can safely receive unlimited praise for he alone is safe to praise, since he is meek and lowly in heart. All others, even the greatest of angels, would be liable to be corrupted by so much praise. And only he can safely possess dominion and unfettered power, for we could trust no created being to rule with such absolute power without hindrance or check, and not worry that they might do so to their own advantage and to our hurt. This praise is then an expression of complete trust in God. It is a trust which we have no alternative but to exercise, but our experience of God’s goodness makes us perfectly content in doing so.