The Torah Advised HKB”H to Create the World since There Cannot Be a King without a People
Following this line of reasoning, we must now explain its practical application. How can a Jew serve Hashem according to the format of מל"ך—brain, heart, and liver—and not in the reverse order of כל"ם? Now, our sacred sources teach us that the purpose of creation was for HKB”H to be recognized as King of the entire universe, and, of course, a king must have subjects, a people. In Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmunah (Chapter 7), the author of the Tanya writes: “It is known to all that the purpose of the creation of the world is the revelation of His (G-d’s) blessed sovereignty; for there is no king without a nation.”
Along these lines, Rabeinu Bachayei writes (Bereishis 38, 30): We say on Rosh HaShanah, on which the world was created: “the holy King” and “the King of Judgment”—because that day represents the beginning of His deeds; for there cannot be a king without a people. This idea is also expressed in the Gemara (R.H. 34a): "בשישי היו אומרים ה' מלך גאות לבש, על שם שגמר מלאכתו ומלך עליהם"—on the sixth day, they would say (Tehillim 93, 1): “Hashem has reigned, He has donned grandeur,” commemorating the fact that He completed His work and reigned over them.
In truth, however, the original source for this notion is the Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer (Chapter 3):
"עד שלא נברא העולם היה הקב"ה ושמו הגדול בלבד, ועלה במחשבה לברוא את העולם... מיד נתייעץ הקב"ה בתורה ששמה תושיה לברוא את העולם, השיבה לו ואמרה, רבון העולמים, אם אין צבא ואין מחנה למלך על מה הוא מולך, ואם אין עם מקלסין למלך איזה הוא כבודו של מלך, שמע אדון העולם וערב לו. אמרה תורה, בי נתייעץ הקב"ה לברוא את העולם, שנאמר לי עצה ותושיה... מכאן אמרו חכמים, כל מלכות שאין לה יועצים אין מלכותה מלכות".
Before the world was created, HKB”H, with His great Name alone existed, and the thought arose in Him to create the world . . . Forthwith, HKB”H sought advice from the Torah whose name is “Toshiyah” whether or not to create the world. She replied and said to Him, “Master of the Universe, if there is no legion and no camp for the king, over whom does he rule? If there is no people to praise the king, where is the honor of the king?” The Master of the Universe heard this, and it pleased Him. The Torah said, “HKB”H sought advice from me concerning the creation of the world,” as it is said (Mishlei 8, 14): “Counsel is mine and Toshiyah” . . . Based on this, the sages said, “Every monarchy which has no counsellors is not a proper monarchy.”
