2 Samuel 7:22
“How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears.”
A present day celebrity was turned off by God when He learned that He wanted praise. It seems a little hypocritical as everyone wants praise. I assume he thought God should be bigger than that. He is bigger than that and he misunderstands the reason why God wants praise.
God receives praise and wants it not out of insecurity, but because it's right. Looking at the brilliance of creation and it vastness, we can't conceive of God's greatness. David admits this in Psalm 139:6, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot comprehend it." In the context he was describing how God worked in his life. That to is amazing. How God works the circumstances of all our lives for His purposes and our benefit. Bruce almighty got a glimpse of its impossibleness.
We recognize greatness in athletes and in the arts. We are amazed at what people can do. We spend our time watching them perform. We enjoy and support them getting awards. That's all praise to God is. "He is worthy to be praised", (Psalm 145:3).
Believers get together for church and sing praises to Him. We love it. He blesses us as we do it. Psalm 22:3 says, "Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." When Jesus was entering Jerusalem, the leaders tried to quiet the people shouting "Hosanna!". Here's His answer to them, "I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out", (Luke 19:40). God will be praised. He deserves it. His people praise Him. Heaven is filled with it and we will do it throughout eternity.
Everyone will praise Him. Even those who deny him in this life. Paul talks about this at the judgement seat, 'It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God', (Romans 14:11). Even the unbelievers will acknowledge Him. It won't be done willingly, but when faced with His great power, even though they acknowledge their error and their horrible future, they bow to God's greatness.
All of us believers know this with great sadness. We pray for our loved ones in hope they will bow their knees in this life. God also mourns and seeks to persuade them. He won't violate their free will, but He goes right up to that point with all His power and methods to lure them. That being said He doesn't do magic tricks to get people's attention. The bible talks about this and how it wouldn't work. Luke 16:31 says, "But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead." What God does do is speak through people, nature and into their hearts. But as with Pharaoh, when we harden our hearts, they become calloused and the voice of God becomes unheard.
Regardless of our response God will be praised. Lord, help us to be ones that praise You from a willing and grateful heart.