December 1, 2002

WE KNOW, WE KNOW NOT

Romans 8:22-28

   "For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:22-23). We know things by revelation or by experience. But this knowledge has come through our participation in and partaking of the groaning of this fallen creation.

   The creation was subjected to vanity, but it was "in hope," a hope based on revelation and not experience. We in like manner are "saved in hope," even while we also groan in our association with the creation in its bondage of corruption. Our unseen hope requires that we with patience wait with expectation. Even creation's expectation is keyed to and waits for the revelation of the sons of God, the Glory which shall be revealed to us. We know by revelation and experience.

   "Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered" (8:26). We might wonder what is parallel or "likewise" with the Spirit's help. Even as we are hindered on every side by our infirmities, sufferings, groaning, vanity, and the bondage of corruption, so in like manner we are helped by our hope, expectation, patience, and the Spirit's intercession. With the Spirit praying for us it might seem that we could just leave that in His hands and go about something else. Not so, for He helps together with us. It is a joint effort, such as each one carrying opposite ends of a heavy object.

   We read "what the law could not do" being hindered by weakness of the flesh ( Rom. 8:3), and "the infirmity of your flesh" (Rom. 6:19), of Timothy's "often infirmities," and even Paul expressed "weakness and fear" in ministry (1 Cor. 2:3). Here our weakness is expressed on a plane even higher than ministry. Our prayers are our audience with God! "We know not what we should pray for as we ought." How very sad that we are considered too weak to rise the height of this spiritual fellowship with God. So "the Spirit Himself helps our infirmity..."

Ivan L. Burgener