“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God…Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26-27, 34).
Because God knows our frame—that we are but dust—His provisions for our shortcomings and failures are continuously available. “Makes intercession” in each of these verses is in the present tense; thus indicating a timeless, continual blessing.
Because God knows our frame—that we are but dust—both the Son (v. 34) and the Holy Spirit (vv. 26, 27) are tasked with making intercession for His sons/heirs.
Because God knows our frame—that we are but dust—the Holy Spirit is expected to make uber intercession on our behalf. Verses 27 and 34 use the word entychanei; verse 26 employs the word hyperentychanei. Like our English word “hyper”, this Greek preposition denotes the idea of “exceeding, abundant”.
Because God knows our frame—that we are but dust—the divine help we receive transforms our failings in prayer into petitions according to God’s will.
Because God knows our frame—that we are but dust—how appropriate is Paul’s rhetorical questions: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).
