20My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.
Have you ever just wanted someone to be as passionate about something as you are? It is wonderful when you find someone with whom you can share your excitement. Job has just called his friends “miserable comforters.” They came with the intent of comforting him, but they have failed miserably. They went from sitting in silence, which was good, to finger pointing and condemning, not so good. Job went from feeling like someone cared to being alone in his pain again. His wife told him to “curse God and die.” That was helpful! Job wants someone to join his prayer team, someone who will be passionate in prayer on his behalf. He is struggling spiritually, and wants someone to join him in the ring. This verse is a verse of hope. Job says that there is someone who is on his side, someone in God’s presence who has joined his prayer team. Talk about having an “in” with the boss, Job feels like he has that with God. This person is pleading, taking the same stance as Job. Job is desperate and this advocate is desperate as well. They share the same passion. We know who this is from the New Testament. The writer of the book of Hebrews says that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. But what is amazing is that before any of the other books of the Old Testament are written, Job writes these words of hope and comfort. It is as if he were given a glimpse into the inner workings of heaven. Right in the middle of his suffering, he gets to see and understand a reality that was hidden for millennia. Someone is pleading on our behalf. We are not alone in our struggle.
The Arnold Journey 