The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 243

, ers. 26. 27.-He1p,'ng 011r 1°nfi.rm1°fy. In the previous verses the twofol1l "groaning" bas been set forth-of nature 11S subjected to vanity, and of redeemed man BB still sharing the heritage of vanity in himself and in his relation to the world around. "We hope t,,r t-hat we see not-: " and this hope, though it be of the charaoter of patient muting. is yet aL"O of the cbarncter of intense desire. But are our desires merely TILgUe, unauthorized wishes for some fancied good, which God may not be purposed e,er to grant? Nay; for what might be otherwise but the vague wishes of our burdened hearts are intensified and authorized by the spiritual life which is in us-are, indeed, the promptings, the groanings, of that very Spirit of God who is the Author and Sustainer of our spiritual life. And as such they are according to God's will, and, being according to bis will, are the sure pledge of their own realization. The general truth here set f<>rth is that, in all our times of weakness in this mortal life, when we are ready to faint, the Spirit sustains us; the special application of the truth is that, when" in prsying we cannot express to God what the blessing is which would allay the distres.s of our heart" (Godet), the Spirit of God inspires us with holy aspirations, which a.re not indeed to be formulated in human words, seeing that they are touched v.:ith something of the infinite, but which react in comfort on the heart, e.s conveying in themselves an assurance that the almost in.finite craving shall be infinitely satisfied. L OuB n.""FIRlUTY. 1. In this life of trial, in which evil is so largely mingled with good, and in which, therefore, as regards our perfect redemption, we have to "hope for that which we see not," we are called to exercise both a passive and e.n active waiting. (I) Passively, we are to wait until the day dawn and the shadows flee a.way. (2) Actively, we are to do God's will in this present world, and by so doing to hasten the advent of that day. But how often we prove our "infirmity" I our strength is weak- ness. How sometimes the heart is well-nigh crushed beneath the load, and we a.re tempted to e&y impatiently, "Would that it were morning!" And how dispirited we are then for the work of the kingdom! 2. And this general infirmity manifests itself specially in our inability to pray aright for the good which we confusedly desire. Oh, who has not proved this? The evils and mysteries of life almost daze our spirits; we strive in vain with our vision to pierce the impenetrable darkness. " Who she.11 show us any good?" So, coming before God, we do nca find our accustomed relief: "we know not how to pmy e.s we ought." II. Otra HELP. L Amid all our weakness, however manifesting itself, the Spirit helps us. He gives us the patience to wait, and the strength to bear the burden and to do the work. Yes, that which of all things else is hardest, "to labour and to wait," earnestly to pursue our appointed task in spite of the mystery and distress of life, that is made possible by the good Spirit's help. Nay, even more, an inspiration comes from him which makes us zealous for the extension of bis kingdom, e.nd we urge our we.y with strength renewed; for our way is bis way, and it tends to the accomplishment of his perfect will. 2. But especially, as these verses teach us, the Spirit helpeth our infirmity when "we know not how to pray as we ought." Oppressed by the mystery of life, torn by its cruel-seeming evils, knowing that these things ought not so to be, that they will not so be in a perfect state, we yet can scarcely realize our own desires, e.nd cannot pray for the things we need. Then comes the inspiration from on high, and our heart goes forth towards God in aspirations prompted, and therefore warranted, by God. A.nd the very desire, so born, gives rest. We may not know its full meaning• we are but partly conBCioue of our true need as regards that future for which v/e sigh. A.nd therefore we may certainly not articulate all our desire in syllables of human speech to God: the groanings "cannot be uttered," But they a.re heard• they are understood; they shall be answered. For the Spirit that is in us is the Spirit who "searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Cor, ii. 10).; and he therefore "maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ' Oh, what e. pledge is here of our sure fruition of all gO?<l I W,e do not ve.in~y and wrongl_y 1igh for the perftctneae of the new world; God himself sighs in ue, with us, for th111 w1a1=ati,Jn. '!'here ill truly a groaning in nature itself for deliverance; then, !1 a ea, vur. 1-80.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUT, TO THE ROMANS. 24:1