26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Learn hence, 1. That the holiest and best of saints labour oft-times under great infirmities in the work and duty of prayer, not knowing what to pray for, or how to manage that important affair as they ought.
Hence it was that the apostles themselves, being sensible of their own disability in this kind, made their addresses to Christ himself to teach and instruct them how to pray, Lu 11:1.
Learn, 2. That it is the work and office of the Holy Spirit of God to help our infirmities in prayer, or, as the word signifies, to help together with us, to set his shoulder to ours, and lift with us at the same burden: the Spirit of Christ and our own spirit must both do their part in carrying on this work; if ever we expect the Spirit of Christ and our own spirit must both do their part in carrying on this work; if ever we expect the Spirit’s assistance, we must exert our own endeavours.
More particularly; the Spirit helps us in prayer, by working in us a deep sense of our spiritual wants, by giving us an insight into the promises and enabling us to plead them at the throne of grace, by creating and stirring up desires in our souls to have our wants supplied by encouraging and emboldening us to come to God in prayer as to a father with humble reverence and child-like confidence.
But though the Holy Spirit be our guide and assistant in this duty, yet not so as to give us occasion to think that the words of prayer are immediately inspired and dictated to us by the Holy Ghost: let us have a care that we mistake not an idle and foolish loquacity, a frothy eloquence and affected language, outward vehemency and boldness of speech, a natural fervency, or an acquired fluency of expression, for the Spirit’s help and assistance in prayer.
Implore the Spirit’s help and he will help thy infirmities: he will show thee thy sins, to give thee matter of confession; he will show thee thy wants, to give the matter of petition; he will show thee the mercies and blessings of God to yield thee matter of thanksgiving; he will show thee the church’s miseries and necessities to furnish thee with matter of intercession.
Thus the Spirit will assist thee but never expect that he should act without thee.
Learn, 3. What is the proper work and office of the Holy Spirit in prayer: it is to make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
But how is the Spirit our intercessor? Is not that Christ’s office?
Ans. Christ is an intercessor for us, the Holy Spirit is an intercessor in us.
Christ, in respect of his meritorious sufferings, is an advocate, mediator, and intercessor with the Father for us.
The Holy Spirit intercedes in us, by enabling us for, and assisting us in our duty; by quickening our affections, and enlarging our desires; by setting us a-groaning after the Lord.
Groaning notes the strength and ardency of desire, which through the fervency of it puts the soul to pain, and a holy impatience till it is heard.
Lord, how flat and dead are our hearts sometimes in prayer! How much are our spirits straitened! But, if we want words, let us not want groans; let thy Spirit help us to groan our prayer when we want the ability to utter it; for silent groans proceeding from thy Spirit shall be heard in your ears, when the loudest cries shall not be heard without it.