What does Job 21:15 reveal about human attitudes towards God? Verse Job 21:15 – “What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?” Immediate Literary Context Job’s friends contend that suffering is always divine retribution. In rebuttal, Job cites prosperous wicked people who voice cynical questions about God. Verse 15 is the centerpiece of that skeptical monologue, exposing the mindset of unrepentant humanity that enjoys temporal ease yet dismisses the divine. Theological Significance 1. Rebellion of the will: The verse crystallizes Romans 1:21, where fallen humanity “did not glorify Him as God.” 2. Self-sufficiency illusion: Prosperity breeds the belief that one can thrive apart from the Creator (cf. Deuteronomy 8:17). 3. Transactional religion rejected: True worship is owed because God is worthy, not because He is useful (Revelation 4:11). Survey of Parallel Biblical Attitudes • Exodus 5:2 – Pharaoh: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice?” • Psalm 73:11-12 – “How does God know? … Always at ease, they increase their riches.” • Malachi 3:14-15 – “It is futile to serve God … evildoers prosper.” These echoes confirm a recurring human disdain for divine authority when material comfort masks spiritual need. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near-Eastern texts (e.g., “Dialogue of a Man and His God,” c. 2nd millennium BC) exhibit similar transactional piety—gods served for benefits. Job overturns that paradigm by revealing that such bargaining fails before Yahweh’s sovereign freedom (Job 42:2). Archaeological Corroboration • Tel Dan Stele (9th cent. BC) confirms the historic “House of David,” aligning with Job’s era in a real historical continuum. • Ugaritic tablets reveal polytheistic service contracts with deities, highlighting Job’s contrast: the true God refuses to be manipulated. Pastoral Application The verse diagnoses hearts that measure piety by profit. Evangelistically, it invites probing questions: “Is material success enough? What if death nullifies earthly gain?” Pointing to Christ’s empty tomb redirects from temporal profit to eternal purpose. Contemporary Relevance Modern secularism reprises Job 21:15 in phrases like “science explains the universe—why pray?” Yet miracles of healing documented in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., medically verified Lourdes cases) counter the claim of zero gain, updating Job’s question with fresh empirical answers. Summary Job 21:15 exposes humanity’s utilitarian skepticism, rooted in pride and prosperity, that dismisses worship unless it yields tangible returns. Scripture counters by revealing God’s intrinsic worth, the folly of self-sufficiency, and the ultimate “gain” secured in the resurrection of Jesus Christ—eternal life and the fulfillment of life’s chief end: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. |
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