2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Romans 8:26-28
Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
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. 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. 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.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): This furnishes us with an opportunity to remark two things. The first regards our infirmities in prayer. We often know not what we ask.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): We must always remember how it is said that we do not know what to pray for, because with regard to ourselves it is something that exceeds all our understanding. The most able of us fail in that respect, despite the fact that there are a number who imagine that they know perfectly how and what to pray to God.
JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807): Our own limited views, short-sighted purposes and desires, may be, and will be, often over-ruled.
ANDREW FULLER (1754-1815): God will not grant us every desire, that is our mercy; for, some of them are sinful. David desired to be revenged on Nabal and his innocent family. Jonah desired Nineveh’s ruin. Others would not be for our good. David desired the life of the child he had by Bathsheba; David also desired the life of Jonathan; neither of which would have been for his good. Nay, not every righteous desire…David desired to build a house for God, and it was a righteous desire, for God took it well at his hands; yet He did not grant it. Kings and prophets desired to see the Lord Messiah, and yet did not see Him. How then are we to understand it? Doubtless there is great mystery in these things.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): But the Holy Spirit will “make intercession for them.” Christ is properly our Advocate and Intercessor, 1 John 2:1; but the Spirit also may be said to “intercede for us.” The Spirit intercedes in us at the throne of grace, while Christ intercedes for us at the throne of glory. The Holy Spirit sometimes enables us to pour out our hearts with fluency. This he does by discovering to us our wants, quickening our affections, and testifying to us God’s willingness to answer prayer. He does not, however, always operate in this way. He will make intercession “with unutterable groans”—the joy of Christians is represented as being sometimes inexpressible, 1 Peter 1:8; but frequently a sense of sin overwhelms them. Then sighs and groans are the natural language of their hearts. Nor are such inarticulate prayers unacceptable to God. We have a remarkable instance of their success in the history of our Lord, see John 11:33,38,41.
MARY WINSLOW (1774-1854): He knows what we need, and what we ought to have, and will deny us no good thing. But He must judge for us, who are but as babes, who cannot judge for ourselves.
WILLIAM JAY: The second point is God’s method in answering us. He grants us while He denies. If He refuses us, He gives us something better in exchange, something better in itself, and better also for us…With regard to the thorn in the flesh, Paul was more than satisfied with the manner in which his prayer for the removal of it was answered, when, though it continued, he had the assurance of all-sufficient grace under it, and that the Saviour’s strength should be made perfect in his weakness. “Most gladly therefore,” says he, “will I glory in my infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” He withholds abundance, but He teaches and enables us to be content with such things as we have.
RICHARD CECIL (1748-1810): God is omniscient as well as omnipotent: and omniscience may see reason to withhold what omnipotence could bestow.
THOMAS GOODWIN (1600-1679): Observe, if in the thing which thou hast prayed much about, though it be denied thee, yet if God doth not give thee all satisfaction that may be.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Though God accepts the prayer of faith, yet He does not always answer it in the letter; as He sometimes grants in wrath, so He sometimes denies in love. It is a great comfort to us, whatever thorns in the flesh we are pained with, that God’s grace is sufficient for us.
WILLIAM JAY: Prayer is sometimes answered by strange and even terrible things in righteousness.
MARY WINSLOW: How often does God answer prayer by terrible things in righteousness! When we are in a thick mist we can discern nothing, and are anxious to escape from its perils. But, as it rolls away, we begin to see a gleam of light, and hail it as the commencement of a fuller and brighter discovery. Now this often the case with the people of God’s everlasting love. We pray for what we believe would promote our happiness and the comfort of others, and for the glory of God. Perhaps we do not in so many words ask for this favour; but we earnestly desire it in our hearts, and often plan in our minds how it may be brought about. God sees the heart’s fond wish; presently He brings us, by His all-wise providence, to the very thing we desired; but oh! in such a different way from what we had planned in our own minds. And yet, how much more effectually has He done it than we had thought. Such is our God, and it is a mercy when we see His blessed hand in every dispensation towards His elect.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): When we ask in faith, nothing doubting, if we receive not the precise thing asked for, we shall receive an equivalent, and more than an equivalent for it. As one remarks, “If the Lord does not pay in silver, He will in gold; and if He does not pay in gold, He will in diamonds.” If He does not give you precisely what you ask for, He will give you that which is tantamount to it, which you will greatly rejoice to receive in lieu of it.
WILLIAM JAY: Wisdom therefore is here necessary in discerning, and caution in judging.
JOHN CALVIN: We shall have profited greatly when we have learned to refrain hasty judgment.
J. R. MILLER (1840-1912): Many prayers that seem to be unanswered are really answered. The blessing comes, but in a form we do not recognize. Instead of the thing we sought, something better is given. The burden is not lifted away, but we are sustained beneath it. We are not spared the suffering, but in the suffering we are brought nearer to God, and receive more of His grace. The sorrow is not taken away, but is changed to joy. Our ignorant prayers are taken into the hands of the great Intercessor, and are answered in ways far wiser than our thoughts—instead of earthly trifles, heavenly riches; instead of things which our poor wisdom sought, things God’s infinite wisdom chose for us; instead of pleasure for a day, gain for eternity.
WILLIAM JAY: Let us leave ourselves to His wisdom and goodness; a wisdom that is infinite, and a goodness that spared not His own Son.
C. H. SPURGEON: God’s memorial is that He hears prayer, Psalm 65:2; and His glory is that He answers it in a manner fitted to inspire awe in the hearts of His people.
JOHN NEWTON: How happy are they who can resign all to Him, see His hand in every dispensation, and believe that He choses better for them than they possibly could for themselves.
