John Trapp on Job 21:15

Verſe 15. What is the Almighty that we ſhould ſerve him?] Here the rotteneſſe of their hearts bliſtereth out at the lips of theſe rich wretches, theſe fat Bulls of Baſan, ſuch as was Pharaoh that ſturdy rebel, who asked this very queſtion in the Text, What, or Who is the Almighty,He ſeemeth to rehearſe the very words of Pharoah. Diod. &c? Exod. 5.2. and had a large Reply made him by one plague upon another, till he was compelled to anſwer himſelf, The Lord is righteous. Forced he was to ſpeak fair whiles held upon the Rack, if for nothing elſe, yet that he might get off. Such Queryings as this carry greateſt contempt in them, and would lay the Almighty quite below the required duty: as if Almighty were but an empty title, and that he could do neither good nor evil, Zeph. 1.12. that it was to no purpoſe or profit to ſerve him, that the gaines would not pay for the paines, &c.

And what profit ſhould we have if we pray unto him?] Hebr. If we meet him, viz. by our prayers, Jer. 7.16. Am. 4.12. ſee Mal. 3.14. with the Note. Children will not ſay their prayers unleſſe they may have their Breakfaſt; nor hypocrites pray, but for ſome profit. They pretend ſometimes to meet God, but they draw not near with that true heart, mentioned, Heb. 10.22. in ſeeking God they meerly ſeek themſelves, as Spira ſaid he did. In Parabola ovis capras ſuas quaerunt; No penny, no Pater Noſter. And as the Wolfin the Fable, having ſpelled Pater, and being bid put together, ſaid Agnus: ſo when theſe pray, their hearts are upon their halfe penny Ezek. 33. They follow Chriſt for the loaves, and ſerve him no longer, then he ſerves their turnes.

—Rarae fumant ſoelicibus arae.