Verse 14

You have said,‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD of Heaven’s Armies?

Referenced Verses

  • Isa 58:3 : 3 They lament,‘Why don’t you notice when we fast? Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’ Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, you oppress your workers.
  • Zeph 1:12 : 12 At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves,‘The LORD neither rewards nor punishes.’
  • Zech 7:3-6 : 3 by asking both the priests of the temple of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and the prophets,“Should we weep in the fifth month, fasting as we have done over the years?” 4 The message of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies then came to me, 5 “Speak to all the people and priests of the land as follows:‘When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months through all these seventy years, did you truly fast for me– for me, indeed? 6 And now when you eat and drink, are you not doing so for yourselves?’”
  • Jas 4:9 : 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.
  • Joel 2:12 : 12 An Appeal for Repentance“Yet even now,” the LORD says,“return to me with all your heart– with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
  • Job 21:14-15 : 14 So they say to God,‘Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?’
  • Job 22:17 : 17 They were saying to God,‘Turn away from us,’ and‘What can the Almighty do to us?’
  • Job 34:9 : 9 For he says,‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’
  • Job 35:3 : 3 But you say,‘What will it profit you,’ and,‘What do I gain by not sinning?’
  • Ps 73:8-9 : 8 They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. 9 They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth. 10 Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea. 11 They say,“How does God know what we do? Is the Most High aware of what goes on?” 12 Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. 13 I concluded,“Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.