James Nisbet Commentary - Romans 8:26 - 8:26

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James Nisbet Commentary - Romans 8:26 - 8:26


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THE HOLY SPIRIT OF HELP

‘And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity.’

Rom_8:26 (R.V.)

Our Lord taught His disciples to pray, and promised another Advocate. So the Holy Ghost, as our Lord did, teaches us to pray, and is Himself, in a sense, our Advocate. But the mode of assistance is different. We humbly now inquire as to this mode.

I. Let us seek to obtain a deeper realisation of the purport of that phrase: ‘We know not how to pray as we ought.’ Heathen philosophers gave as a reason why men ought not to pray, ‘You know not what to pray for, therefore prayer is useless.’ Miserable comforters were they all! Our very ignorance and weakness are what most commend us to the All-wise Almighty Father. What child in the family circle demands most of its parents’ care and attention? The little helpless babe ‘with no language but a cry.’ We must feel our nothingness before receiving God’s fullness—our blindness before apprehending Christ as Light. We must know we cannot of ourselves know how to pray or for what.

II. But ‘likewise,’ or ‘in like manner the Spirit helpeth.’—This links the text with what goes before. The Apostle is speaking of burdens resting upon (1) creation (Rom_8:22), (2) upon the soul of believers (Rom_8:23), and (3) upon the Holy Ghost (Rom_8:26), which burdens are expressed by groanings in each instance. Thus, by a mystic system of spiritual evolution, an unutterable and intolerable burden is carried, as it were, from the realm of the material to the spiritual world, the Divine Being Himself not being exempted from a share. It is difficult to understand, but the meaning seems to be that the Holy Ghost excites in us desires which we cannot utter in prayer. All true Christians are conscious of these vague longings, and have a Divine thirst of the soul. Our nebulous but very real desires cannot shape themselves into words. We can only ‘wait for the redemption.’ Then comes the Holy Ghost to help our infirmities. The word literally means ‘to take hold of one thing with another.’ Like a powerful friend coming to help one with a weight he cannot carry himself. How effectual such help is!

III. Consider why it is that this praying in and through the Spirit is effectual.

(a) He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit. Who is it we find in Rev_2:23? It is the Alpha and Omega, ‘All the Churches shall know that I am He which searcheth,’ etc. We know not what to pray for; but God knows, and Christ is God.

(b) Such prayers are sure to be answered. They cannot fail, because they are prompted by God Himself, and the intercession is according to the will of God. ‘And this is the confidence that we have in Him,’ etc. (1Jn_5:14-15).

IV. We conclude with two solemn considerations.

(a) How infinitely important it is that we should have the Spirit of God, for we cannot pray in a Spirit which we do not possess.

(b) How important always to pray in the Spirit. Wait in silence before God for His Holy Spirit to prompt, and then accept the prayer. Never mind if you do not find many words definite enough to express your meaning. The Spirit intercedeth within you, and interprets all to Court above.

—
Rev. J. Trotter.