Job 21:14 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Job 21:14

Comments

Interestingly Job doesn’t present the wicked as denying the existence of God; rather, they acknowledge that he is there, they know that others worship and serve him, but they don’t wish to do so themselves. They wish to take their lives and receive all the benefits that come from God, but to give nothing back to him. They deny that they owe him anything while benefitting from all that he has to give. They even address God to his face and ask him to leave them alone, for they are not afraid to insult him to his face. Job draws the same picture of man that Paul draws in Romans. Although he knows the truth, he suppresses it in unrighteousness. He plays games with his conscience and tries to eradicate the knowledge that is part of the fabric of his being. ‘Yes, there are those who study your ways, O God, and those who diligently seek you can learn about your attributes, but we do not wish to be among them. We have chosen a different life for ourselves, a life which finds satisfaction in material things and gives no consideration to the needs of the soul, or to the moral requirements of the Lord. We do not delight in your ways, but prefer our own devices and inventions. In fact we disdain the Lord and feel contempt for his ways. Yes, he claims the obedience and worship of all his creatures, but we refuse to serve him and reject his claim to rule over us. We do this to his face and without fear for, whatever the consequences, we know what we have chosen and we prefer a life of godlessness to one of abject, degrading obedience. If we have eternal souls and if we have to give an account for our lives, we will think about that when the time comes and face the consequences then, but for now we are going to pursue our own happiness.‘Besides, there is no profit in prayer and we do not believe that God really answers or takes any notice of those who petition him. We say, “You cannot petition the Lord with prayer” (Jim Morrison). Those who do petition him are not answered and have no benefit; prayer is just imagination and those who think God answers are pitiful self-deluded individuals. Why should we go through all the trouble of petitioning the Lord when we will gain nothing from it?’

Application

There are many ways in which men and women tell God to depart from them, without necessarily uttering these words. They avoid worship, persecute his messengers, ignore his warnings, shun believers. All of these things send the same message, loud and clear to God, and he is not deaf. He hears what they say, and this prayer will also be answered to their final consternation.

The fool does not know how to petition the Lord. He thinks that if there is a God, he should be flattered by any approach of his creatures and respond instantly. He does not understand that God will not hear the prayers of those who do not seek him on his terms, who have no intention of repenting of their sin, who think their lives are good enough to need only a little cleaning up.

‘This shows us what is the root and foundation of a good life: namely, to have God before our eyes. It is true that we cannot avoid him, but on our part it is necessary for us to draw near to him. This is why when the Scripture intends to signify that a man has led a holy life, it says that he has God before his eyes, and conversely, when it says that a man has turned his back on God, it shows that he has no regard for God and … it amounts to his running away from God and giving himself over to evil’ (Calvin – English updated).

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Job 21:14 Commentary and Bible Study