There’s a Whole Lot of Groanin’ Going on!

In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome he says this: “For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And He who searches the hearts, knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” [Romans 8:26-27 NASB]. This is a very mysterious passage, but surely Paul wrote these words so that we could draw encouragement and comfort from them, even if our understanding is rather limited.  However, we are not completely in the dark and a deeper look at these words and their context helps provide us with an uplifting appreciation for what the Spirit is doing on our behalf. The Greek words translated ‘groan’ in chapter 8 of Romans [e.g. vs. 22, 23, 26] have the same root meaning, that is: to groan e.g. an inward unexpressed feeling of sorrow [Vine’s Gk. Dic]

Paul asserts that the “…the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now”. [8:22] Paul appears to be saying that the whole creation has been burdened by the Fall of Adam and perhaps even the prior rebellion of Lucifer [Satan] and that one day a new heaven and earth will deliver the ‘whole creation’ from its bondage.  In addition, Paul states that we ourselves “groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” [vs23].  A similar passage using ‘groan’ is found in II Corinthians:

“For we know that if our earthly tent [i.e. our body] which is our house is torn down, [i.e. we die] we have a building from God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house, we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven…For indeed, while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened…” [II Corinthians 5:1, 2,4a].  Paul appears to connect groaning with being burdened, either us or the created order. 

THE BURDEN LIFTER

However, Paul further says that the Spirit also ‘helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…” and His prayers to the Father are 100% on target since, ‘He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God’ [vs27]. This is an incredible assertion by Paul-that even when we fail to understand how to pray for ourselves [and maybe others also] there is someone, that someone being the third member of the Trinity, actually groaning in prayer for us and on our behalf. We don’t know, and frankly don’t have to know what those prayers are, and they appear to be ‘wordless’ and inaudible to us, but not to the Father. I think we would agree that groaning is a deep emotional expression of a person’s heart.  The Spirit of God, being also a person, apparently is expressing deep, emotionally-laden prayers on our behalf. This thought is stunning.

Kenneth Boa says: “In language we cannot understand, the Father searches the human heart, the abode of the Spirit, to hear the Spirit’s prayer.  When the Father hears his will being prayed by the Spirit [because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will], then the Father and Spirit are in perfect harmony for the purposes of God to be accomplished in the believer through the instrument of prayer.” [Boa, K. and Kruidenier, W., Romans, Vol 6 Broadman & Holman Pub. 2000, p. 259]

THE TRINITARIAN TAG TEAM

Not only is the Spirit interceding for us but in the same chapter of Romans Paul says that Jesus is doing so also: “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” [Rom 8: 33-34], and in Hebrews it also states that “He [Jesus] is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them.” [Hebrews 7:25].

 We have a two-person tag team praying/interceding for us before the Father, apparently 24/7/365.  I find this thought powerfully uplifting and encouraging, and I believe that is one of perhaps several reasons why Paul disclosed these truths in his letter to the believers in Rome. After Paul says in vs. 18 that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” [i.e.in heaven] he proceeds in the rest of this chapter to recount the astonishing truths of many things God has done for us: He predestined us to conformity to the image of Christ [vs29]; He called us [i.e. out of darkness and into His light][vs.30], He justified us [declared us righteous][vs 30]; and He will [eventually] glorify us [vs. 30]. All of this prompts Paul to write his  summary statement: ‘If God is for us who is against us?’ [vs 31] The implied response is: NO ONE. No one that will overcome God or derail His good plan for each of us.

Yes, apparently there is a lot of ‘groanin’ going on.  We are burdened and groaning in this life. But we have a burden lifter who is also groaning–on our behalf. In fact, we have two members of the God-head, Jesus, and the groaning-Spirit of God, both interceding on our behalf, all day, every day, year-round. Even in those times when we feel desperately alone and discouraged, the divine ‘tag team’ is actively and intently interceding on our behalf before the Father.

 Truly, “If God is for us, who is against us?”

CJS