How Can a King Rule Without Subjects?

A question regarding the Nach Yomi synopsis of Psalm 10:

Q. In the last paragraph, I don’t understand what you mean by, "He doesn't need subjects in order to rule, so He will continue to be King long after man is gone." Who will G-d rule over if there are no subjects?

A. The Malbim explains it as follows:

ה' מלך, ר"ל ה' אינו דומה כמלך ב"ו שאם חטאו נגדו כל בני המדינה א"א שיהרוג את כולם שאז לא יהיה מלך כי אין מלך בלא עם, אבל מלכות ה' אינו תלוי מן העם, כי ה' מלך עולם, מלכותו נצחי ולא תשתנה, אף אם אבדו גוים מארצו כי אין מלכותו מצד העם כי היא תלויה בו בעצמו

When it comes to a human king, if all of his subjects were to rebel, he couldn't execute them all because then he wouldn't be a king anymore. But Hashem is not this way. Even if all the nations were to perish from the earth, He would still be King because kingship is inherent in His character.

I hope this helps!

Q. It helps a little, but it is still a difficult concept to understand.

A. I have less trouble with that than I do with the following:

We say, "Hashem melech, Hashem malach, Hashem yimloch l'olam vaed" - Hashem reigns, He has always reigned, He will reign forever."

I have no problem with the idea the Hashem will always reign, even after mankind is gone. He'll still reign over the planets, the galaxies, malachim, etc. What my brain has more trouble wrapping around is that He always reigned, even before He created any of those things. Majesty is just somehow an integral part of God's nature. Sometimes we just have to accept that we can't understand God. (Put otherwise, I can't explain gravity; do you really expect me to be able to explain the One Who created gravity?)

Q. Got it. Thanks. 😊

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