Into the Heart of Romans
A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
The Groaning of the Spirit (1|3)
Pages 132-139
Erza 9:3-4 (NIV) When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.
Nehemiah 9:1–3 (NIV) On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.
Daniel 9:3-11 (NIV) I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame —the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes, and our ancestors are covered with shame, LORD, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
Romans 8:22-27 (NIV) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Paul describes a profound calling: not merely to endure suffering, but to stand in prayer at the very places where the world is in pain, allowing the Spirit to groan within us and intercede through us. Have you ever found yourself praying (maybe even wordlessly) from a place of deep pain or compassion for the world? How might such Spirit-led groaning help you see your own trials and the world’s suffering?
According to Paul, God’s goal is not to pull humans out of creation, but to come into creation, dwelling with His image-bearers so that together they bring His healing wisdom “on earth as in heaven.” How does this understanding of God’s presence and purpose shape the way you think about Jesus, about prayer, and about your role in God’s mission within a broken world (making disciples who…)?
Can you recall a time when God met you in the darkness or uncertainty of life rather than removing it, and how might that experience shape the way you pray and partner with God’s work in the world?
Have you ever experienced a moment when the Spirit’s presence felt less like celebration and more like shared lament or deep empathy? What did you do with that/how did you respond?
Paul portrays lament in Romans 8:22-27 as “a Spirit-led practice that anticipates the future redemption of all creation”. How does understanding lament (not as despair) equip us to face the world’s darkest crap while still trusting in God’s promised renewal?