Job 21:15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a question about God's power, but a deep, almost insolent challenge to His very worthiness and relevance. The speakers aren't just asking "what's in it for me?"; they're fundamentally questioning if the Almighty himself is even worth serving, implying that His "profit" is non-existent and His existence demands no allegiance from them.
Job's friends have been insisting that his suffering must be a sign of his sin, but Job is pushing back, pointing out that the wicked often prosper. In this passage, Job voices the defiant questions of those who observe this prosperity, essentially asking why they should bother serving God if it brings no visible worldly advantage, especially when those who disregard Him seem to thrive.
These aren't just simple questions; they're loaded challenges from a heart that's rejecting God. What makes this kind of questioning so dangerous?
The words in Job 21:15 sound like honest questions, but they come from a place of deep rebellion and a desire to cast off all obligation to God.
The Heart of the Matter
These speakers are focused on what they can see and gain right now. What's the dangerous illusion they're falling for?
The allure of worldly success without acknowledging God leads people to believe that prayer and service are pointless. They measure worth by immediate, tangible benefits, missing the bigger picture.
A Short-Sighted View
Understand the original words
Shadday · Hebrew Noun
A title for God emphasizing His omnipotence, sovereign power, and sufficiency; He is the One who is all-mighty and able to perform His will.
abad · Hebrew Verb
To serve God is to acknowledge His lordship through worship, obedience, and submission; it is the act of living in accordance with His commands.
yathar · Hebrew Noun
An advantage, benefit, or gain; here, the wicked question the pragmatic value of maintaining a relationship with or seeking God.
paga · Hebrew Verb
A form of communication with God involving adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication; it is an act of dependence on God’s grace and intervention.
Job's friends are grappling with a theological crisis triggered by the exile and the apparent prosperity of the wicked. The questions in Job 21:15 reflect a deep disillusionment and a questioning of God's justice and the value of religious devotion in a world where faithfulness doesn't seem to bring earthly reward.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
The period when the tribes of Israel were united under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and the Temple as the central place of worship.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united monarchy split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south, leading to prolonged periods of conflict and instability.
c. 8th Century BC
Rise of Assyrian Empire
Assyria emerges as a dominant military power in the ancient Near East, beginning a period of expansion that would eventually threaten and conquer the northern kingdom of Israel.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire, under King Sargon II, conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens and scattering them, a catastrophic event for the people.
Pharaoh famously echoes this sentiment, asking 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice... I do not know the Lord.' This highlights how this rebellious questioning of God's authority and the perceived lack of benefit in obeying Him is a recurring theme in Scripture, not just an isolated outburst from Job's friends.
Malachi 3:14This passage shows people questioning the benefit of serving God, asking 'What is the use of serving the Lord?' just like Job's friends. It directly addresses the same mercenary mindset that prioritizes worldly gain over faithful obedience.
Psalm 73:13Asaph grapples with a similar problem, observing the prosperity of the wicked and lamenting, 'Surely then I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence.' This shows the internal struggle when outward appearances seem to contradict the value of righteousness.
Matthew 6:33Jesus directly counters the 'what's in it for me?' mentality by teaching, 'Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.' This presents the Kingdom as the ultimate profit, shifting the focus from immediate worldly gain to eternal value.
clarkeJob 21:15: "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?"
What is the Almighty - What allegiance do we owe to him? We feel no obligation to obey him; and what profit can we derive from prayer? We are as happy as flesh and blood can make us: our kingdom is of this world; we wish for no other portion than that which we have. Those who have never prayed as they ought know nothing of the benefits of prayer.
bensonJob 21:15: "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?"
Job 21:15 . What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? — What is he to us? What excellence is there in him? What advantage have we, or can we expect from him? Strange that ever creatures should speak so insolently respecting their Creator, on whom they are every moment dependant for life, and breath, and all things! that ever reasonable creatures should speak so absurdly and un…
This isn't just a question about God's power, but a deep, almost insolent challenge to His very worthiness and relevance. The speakers aren't just asking "what's in it for me?"; they're fundamentally questioning if the Almighty himself is even worth serving, implying that His "profit" is non-existent and His existence demands no allegiance from them.
Job's friends have been insisting that his suffering must be a sign of his sin, but Job is pushing back, pointing out that the wicked often prosper. In this passage, Job voices the defiant questions of those who observe this prosperity, essentially asking why they should bother serving God if it brings no visible worldly advantage, especially when those who disregard Him seem to thrive.
Job's friends have been insisting that his suffering must be a sign of his sin, but Job is pushing back, pointing out that the wicked often prosper. In this passage, Job voices the defiant questions of those who observe this prosperity, essentially asking why they should bother serving God if it brings no visible worldly advantage, especially when those who disregard Him seem to thrive.
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c. 7th Century BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah of Judah institutes widespread religious reforms after the discovery of a 'Book of the Law' in the Temple, attempting to centralize worship and purge idolatry.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting portions of the population, including skilled workers and elites, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
c. 590-570 BC— this verse
Job's Life and the Dialogue
This period likely frames the life of Job and the theological dialogues recorded in the book. Job and his friends grapple with profound questions of suffering, divine justice, and the nature of God amidst immense personal loss and societal upheaval.
"What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’" — This isn't just a question about God's power, but a deep, almost insolent challenge to His very worthiness and relevance. The speakers aren't just asking "what's in it for me?"; they're fundamentally…
