Job 21:15

 Job 21:15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

a. NLT: Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’ [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: What is the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?' [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him? [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Jewish Publication Society of America Text: What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him? [Soncino Books of the Bible, Job, 1946; Jewish Publication Society of America Text; Commentary, Rabbi Dr. Victor E. Reichert]

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: What is the Almighty that we should serve Him? What will we gain if we pray to Him? [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

g. Peshitta Eastern Text: Moreover, they say, Who is God, that we should serve him? And what would we gain, that we should pray to him? [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1961 by A.J. Holmon Co.; Copyright  Ⓒ 1939 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1967  by A.J. Holmon Co.;  Copyright  Ⓒ 1940 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; Copyright  Ⓒ 1957 by A.J. Holmon Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

h. NIV: Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’ [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

1. “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?...”

a.  What [Strong: 4100 mah maw or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.]

b. [is the] Almighty [Strong: 7706 Shadday shad-dah'-ee from 7703; the Almighty:--Almighty.

1). The reference of the Almighty is referring to the Almighty God.

2). [Scofield Reference Bible, Note 1.] The etymological signification of Almighty God (El Shaddai) is both interesting and touching. God (El) signifies the “Strong One”. The qualifying word “Shaddai” is formed from the Hebrew word “shad”, the breast, invariably used in Scripture for a woman’s breast; e.g. Genesis 49:25; Job 3:12; Psalm 22:9, etc.. Shaddai therefore means primarily “the breasted”. God is “Shaddai”, because He is the Nourisher, the Strength-giver, and so, in a secondary sense, the Satisfier, who pours Himself into believing lives. As a fretful unsatisfied babe is not only strengthened and nourished from the mother’s breast, but is also quieted, rested, satisfied, so El Shaddai is that name God which sets Him forth as the Strength-giver and Satisfier of His people.

 

3). Dr. W. A. Criswell:  El Shaddai…is a further enrichment of the supreme name YAHWEH. “El” is the singular from of Elohim, and Shaddai is literally, “sufficient”; therefore, it is rendered “Almighty”. The “Almightiness” and “self-sufficiency” of YAHWEH are adequate for Him to deal victoriously and even destructively with His enemies.”

c. that [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

d. [we should] serve [him] [Strong: 5647 `abad aw-bad' a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,]

2. “...and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?”

a. [and] what [Strong: 4100 mah maw or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.]

b. profit [should we have] [Strong: 3276 ya`al yaw-al' a primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively: useful, subjectively: benefited):--X at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).]

1). One of the meanings of the word “profit” is to be benefited, to be given benefits. One could go on indefinitely declaring God’s benefits, but let's give a few.

a), Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

2). The word “profit” in Scripture many times does not refer to money or wealth, but spiritual growth or spiritual blessing. So what profit is there serving the Almighty? Getting saved?

a). 1 Corinthians 10:33  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

b). 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

c. if [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

d. [we] pray [unto him] [Strong: 6293 paga` paw-gah' a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity:--come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light (upon), meet (together), pray, reach, run.]

1). How about beginning with the Lord’s prayer.

a). Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

2). Engel v. Vitale, Prayer in School, 1962: This case was decided in 1962. It forbids children in our nation's public schools to pray while at school. Job 21:15 “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?”  But as Job 21:16 says, this is nothing but “the counsel of the wicked”.

a). Justice Stewart’s dissent in this case lists 10 different president’s requests for prayer, he lists how each day the opening Session of the Supreme Court is opened in prayer, he shows how both houses of Congress open their days with prayer. He then asks the rhetorical question, “Or is the Court suggesting that the Constitution permits judges and Congressmen and Presidents to join in prayer but prohibits school children from doing so?”

b). But the most shocking part of Engel v. Vital is from the pen of Justice Black, and reveals these Justices know full well what they are doing in removing Christian traditions from the public square. “It is true that New York’s establishment of its Regents’ prayer as an officially approved religious doctrine of that State does not amount to a total establishment of one particular religious sect to the exclusion of all others—that, indeed, the governmental endorsement of that prayer seems relatively insignificant when compared to the governmental encroachments upon religion which were commonplace 200 years ago.”

(1) Government encroachment upon religion? Perhaps he was referring to laws such as the Sunday laws. In McGowan v. Maryland, 1961 a case that challenged Sunday closing laws Chief Justice Warren writes. “The American colonial Sunday restrictions arose soon after settlement.” One of the examples that he lists is a 1695 New York Sunday law that reads: “Whereas, the true and sincere worship of God according to his holy will and commandments, is often profaned and neglected by many of the inhabitants and sojourners in this province, who do not keep holy the Lord’s day, but in a disorderly manner accustom themselves to travel, laboring, working, shooting, fishing, sporting, playing, horse-racing, frequenting of tipping houses and using many other unlawful exercises and pastimes, upon the Lord’s day, to the great scandal of the holy Christian faith, be it enacted, etc.” 

 

(2) Or perhaps Justice Black, was referring to the many laws against cursing and blasphemy, such as North Carolina’s Act to Prevent the Grievous Sins of Cursing and Swearing, from 1790. Or maybe he was referring to Rhode Island’s Act for the More Effectual Suppressing of Blasphemy and Prophaneness from 1703.

(3) Encroachments upon religion? These were state governments acknowledging their dependence on God. Justice Black’s reasoning is reprobate, it is backwards. What the courts are doing now to squash all Christian tradition from our nation's heritage is encroachment upon religion. The point is these judges know the Christian influences of our nation's founding, and they are doing their unholy best to stamp it out fulfilling Psalm 2:1-3.