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. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28 KJV)
God’s Everlasting Love
The apostle here suggests two privileges more to which true Christians are entitled.
The first is the help of the Spirit in prayer. While we are in this world, hoping and waiting for what we see not, we must be praying. Hope supposes desire, and that desire offered up to God is prayer; we groan. But we know not what we should pray for as we ought (Ro 8:26). As to the matter, we are not competent judges of our own condition: Who knows what is good for a man in this life? (Ec 6:12). We are shortsighted, biased toward the flesh, and often ask amiss (Mt 20:22; Lu 9:54–55). As to the manner, our graces are weak, affections cold, thoughts wandering, and it is not always easy to find the heart to pray (2Sa 7:27). Even Paul includes himself in this weakness.
But the Spirit helps our infirmities, especially in prayer. He dwells in us as a Spirit of grace and supplication, strengthening faith when it is ready to fail. He does not do all without us, but helps with us, as one who lifts at the other end of a burden. The Spirit makes intercession for us, dictating requests, exciting holy desires, silencing fears, and stirring praying graces. Christ intercedes for us in heaven, the Spirit intercedes in our hearts.
This intercession is with groanings that cannot be uttered. Sometimes, like Moses (Ex 14:15) or Hannah (1Sa 1:13), we cannot express ourselves, but the Spirit’s fervent desires are there. When we can only cry, Abba, Father, this is the Spirit’s work. And this intercession is always according to the will of God (Ro 8:27). The Spirit in the heart never contradicts the Spirit in the word, but melts our will into God’s will: Not as I will, but as thou wilt.
The sure success of these intercessions is that he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit (Ro 8:27). To the hypocrite this is dreadful, but to the sincere Christian it is comforting. God hears those desires we cannot utter, for he knows his own Spirit’s mind in us. As he always hears the Son interceding for us, so he hears the Spirit interceding in us, because it is according to his will (Mt 6:8). Thus the seed of Jacob never seek in vain.
The second privilege is the concurrence of all providences for the good of those that are Christ’s: All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Ro 8:28). Though believers are compassed about with afflictions, yet all is working for their good.
The saints are described by two marks: they love God, setting their affections on him as their chief good; and they are the called according to his purpose—effectually called, not for any merit of their own, but according to God’s eternal counsel.
Their privilege is that all things work together for their good. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me (Ps 57:2). Not sin itself, but even the afflictions that come through sin, God overrules for their good (2Ch 32:31). Merciful providences and afflicting providences, personal and public, all work together. Sometimes for temporal good, as Joseph’s troubles, but always for spiritual and eternal good—breaking them from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven. They work together as ingredients in a medicine or wheels in a machine (Ec 7:14; Eze 10:13). It is not the providences themselves, but the grace and power of God working in them, that makes them so. This we know from Scripture, from experience, and from the testimony of all the saints.