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I. WHAT IS THIS GROANING?

1. There are two causes of groaning in sensitive creatures —

(1) Labour and motion. So we may say the creature is worn out with hard labour to serve the uses of man; because it is in continual motion (Ecclesiastes 1:5; Job 37:11). The earth is digged, rent, and deprived of its sabbaths. The rivers flow, and the sea hath its ebbs and tides; all things in the lower world are full of labour; and so the creature is wearied and worn out to serve man.

(2) That which answereth to pain, is their passing away by corruption. The four elements being contrary one to another, are still wasting one another till all fail; heat against cold, and moisture against dryness. And besides, the creature is often blasted in its greatest glory and beauty. Look, as in a fruitful season the valleys are said to laugh with fatness (Psalm 65:12, 13); so on the other hand it doth, as it were, mourn (Jeremiah 12:4, 23. 10; Isaiah 24:4; Isaiah 33:9; Joel 1:10). Now this may come to pass, partly, by external drought (1 Kings 18:5); by storm and tempest (Proverbs 28:3); by vermin (Joel 1:4); by the irruption and invasion of an enemy (Isaiah 1:7); by pestilential diseases (Amos 4:10).

2. These things premised, we may see in what sense the creature is said to groan.

(1) In a way of supposition. If they had reason, they would be thus affected. If God should open the mouth of the creature, as he did that of Balaam's ass, it would groan under its hard servitude (2 Peter 2:16).

(2) By analogy. There is something in them which is a shadow and resemblance of reason. The grass groweth as if it knew how to grow; a stone in descending, falleth by a straight line as if it had reason to pick it out; so that they do in their kind groan under their present burden, till they be delivered from it.

II. HOW ARE WE CONCERNED IN THESE GROANS?

1. They are upbraiding groans. We that have reason are more senseless than the creatures: the creature groaneth, and we are unaffected with our sin or misery (Jeremiah 12:14). "For swearing, and lying, and stealing, and adultery, the land mourneth " (Hosea 4:2, 3); but doth the swearer or the adulterer mourn?" The vines howl, and the fig tree languisheth" (Isaiah 24:7); but doth the drunkard mourn, because God is provoked by his excess? It is very observable that the prophets often turn from men and speak to creatures (Lamentations 2:18; Micah 6:1, 2; Jeremiah 22:29).

2. Awakening groans. The creatures speak by our thoughts, and groan by our affections; namely, as they excite us to sigh and long for a better estate.

3. Instructive groans. They teach us(1) the vanity of the creature, which is now often changed, and must at length be dissolved.

(2) The evil of sin; it is the burden of the whole creation, of which it would fain be eased.

(3) Patience. We live in a groaning world, and must expect to bear our share in the common concert.

(4) Long-suffering. The continuance of the universe is much longer than the continuance of our lives; therefore let us not repine at so short a time, for the creature hath been in a groaning condition these six thousand years.

(5) Hope in long sorrow. We should keep up hope and expectation; the creature groaneth till now; yea, but still it expecteth its final deliverance (John 16:21, 22). The throes of our sorrow may be sharp; but the birth will occasion joy enough to countervail the tediousness of it.

4. Complaining, accusing groans. Because of the slavery we put them into they groan for vengeance (Habakkuk 2:11).

III. HOW WE KNOW IT? For who ever heard the groaning of the whole creation?

1. By sensible experience we know the vanity of the creature (Psalm 119:96).

2. The word affirmeth —

(1) That this came in by man's sin; and the common apprehension of mankind attesteth it, that wicked men are unprofitable burdens of the earth, and bring a judgment on the place where they live.

(2) That God having repaired the world by Christ, there is a better estate appointed for man; and so by consequence for the creatures, which are an appendage to him (Isaiah 11:6-9).

3. The Spirit improveth it, both the vanity of the creature, and our mortality, and the hopes of restoration (Psalm 90:12; Deuteronomy 29:2-4; Ephesians 2:8). Conclusion. From the whole take these corollaries:

1. That sinful man is an enemy to all the creatures, as well as to himself. The creation was a well-tuned instrument, upon which man might make music to the praise and honour of God; but the strings of the harp are broken; and there is nothing but jarring instead of harmony, and groans for praise.

2. That every particular land fareth the worse for wicked men (Proverbs 11:10, 11).

3. That we must not ascribe the alterations and changes of the creature to chance or fortune, but to God's providence punishing man's sin.

4. Why a righteous man should be merciful to his beast (Proverbs 12:10). There is burden enough upon the creature under which he groans.

5. The wonderful dulness of man in the case of sin and misery; so that the creatures are fain to supply our room.

6. Our great need to draw our hearts from the inordinate love of the creature, and to lay up treasure in heaven. What can we expect from a groaning creature?

7. How unsuitable sensual rejoicing is unto the state which we are now in. It is a groaning world, and here we seek our pleasures and contentments.

(T. Manton, D.D.)

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KJV: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

WEB: For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.