Sighs Too Deep for Words
.
Psalm 96:7-13
7. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9. Worship the Lord in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth! 10. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12. let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy 13. before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Romans 8:20-27
20. for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21. because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23. and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25. But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. 27. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
I started out in Psalms this morning. After all the driving I’ve done in the last three days—even in the pouring, beating rain and through fog on Afton Mountain, I couldn’t help but think of the psalms and the poetic way they call us to praise and worship God! I love the mountains and the scenery on the trip to Roanoke! The sky seems bigger and the world seems a bit more “open” and the rolling hills and mountains really do proclaim God’s glory! I often stop at one of the scenic overlooks – not this time—too rainy! It just amazes me that God would not only make a landscape so pleasing to look at, but made us with the capacity and ability to enjoy the view! What an awesome God!
Way back in post-exilic times, the psalmists understood the greatness and goodness of God! The people were confident in their covenant God to protect and save them. And somewhere in their souls must have burned the future hope of the Messiah—the true fulfillment of all they believed and heard about. In the recesses of their consciousness, there must have been the hope of a savior they would never meet, or hear about in history, or even be able to imagine! But there must have been the promise of something so wonderful, that psalmists could not help but proclaim their confident hope for the future!
And Romans talks about the fulfillment of that hope! In fact the notes for Psalm 96 directed me to Romans 8! Jesus is the only truth we need! He is who and what those ancient believers longed for and waited for; died for and trusted their future to. They could not help but believe in the God of history; the God of mountains and sky; the God of all creation! All they had to do was look around, not only at the beauty of their world, but at the abundant blessings God bestowed upon them. And to marvel at his faithfulness, and His mercy. To bow down in gratitude for His promise of a future beyond their imagining. To sing and dance and celebrate that they were His chosen, His beloved, his covenant people.
And today, we cannot help but bow down in gratitude for the fulfillment of that promise. And for the new covenant, forged with the blood and tears, flesh and soul of the Son. Now our hoped for future is the promise of eternity in heaven with God—no matter how terribly we have sinned; no matter how far we have veered off course; so matter how full of hate and hurt we have been. When we repent, offer our lives to God and run to him, He welcomes us with the open arms of Jesus on the Cross. It is unimaginable! Each generation has revealed to them a greater, bigger, more amazing truth!
God of wonder, beyond imagining, has filled our hearts with hope! “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” I think that quote is so beautiful. “Sighs too deep for words.” That is when we are acceptable to God – sighs of resignation to our own will and strength – or sighs of relief and gratitude – acknowledging and proclaiming that we are God-breathed.
I hope you spend your day thanking God that He has fulfilled His promise once and for all time in the sacrifice of His Son.
Mary
