Rest and Protection
And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 NASB
Intercedes – Paul’s word for intercedes is a very special word that he made up just to paint a very special picture. The word is huperentugchano, another tongue twister. Once again we will see the meaning as we break the word into its parts. Huper is a prefix that means, “on behalf of or for the protection of.” The next part is en, meaning, “to rest in or rest on.” Finally we come to tugchano, a verb that means, “to fall in with people, to meet them.” Do you see this beautiful picture? The Spirit falls in with us for the purpose of providing rest and protection. That’s what intercession means! Someone comes to you and lifts your burden. You are given rest. And at the same time, that helper surrounds you with protection so that the weight you were carrying does not fall back on you. Rest and protection. Exactly what we need!
When we come to YHWH with prayers so heavy on our souls we can barely carry them, the Spirit falls in with us. God is right there on His knees with us. He leans toward us, face-to-face, and gently lifts the burden. “Rest in me,” He whispers. “Let me pray for you.” And while we kneel next to the Spirit, we feel His mighty arm of protection, giving us a firm squeeze. “I know what you need to say, my child.”
Intercession is a wonderful word. It is the word that let’s me rest in the arms of the Father, knowing that the Spirit is pleading my concerns before the throne of grace. The most amazing fact of Paul’s proclamation of prayer is this: Prayer is God’s work too. Paul tells us that God is the active agent in intercession. We are carried along by His effort. This is not a demand for me to reach heavenly realms with soul-wrenching pleadings. This is a statement that God Himself brings my deepest cares to the Light. I do not serve a God Who waits for me to find the secret formula of effective prayer before He answers. I serve a God Who rushes to my side, lifts my burdens and gives expression to my unutterable concerns. I serve a God Who knows exactly what I need to pray and then does it for me.
The next time you are on your knees, struggling with the deepest longings of your heart, listen! You will hear the Spirit right beside you; speaking the words you could not find about the thoughts you could not comprehend. Our God is the God of the most intimate places.
Topical Index: prayer, intercession, huperentugchano, Romans 8:26
