Echoes From the Campfire

Lots of people talk about what the Lord wants.  Wonder how many has ever asked Him?”
              –Elmer Kelton (The Good Old Boys)

    “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
              –Philippians 4:19(AMPC)
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There is probably not a more recognizable chapter in the Bible than Psalm 23 and next to John 3:16 the most memorized verses.  There is so much that has been said about these six verses, and yet there is so much more to be said.  They are verses of comfort, exhortation, encouragement, and inspiration.  They give hope when there seems to be no hope left.  G. Campbell Morgan said, “When this is said all is said.  Whatever may be added is only to help us understand the fullness of this great truth…  If we wander, we are not abandoned.  In the darkest hours he is still with us.  In our conflicts he upholds us.”

         1 – The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
         2 – He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
         3 – He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
         4 – Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
         5 – You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
         6 – Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in[d] the house of the Lord
as long as I live. (HCSB)

    It is hard for me to say this without referring back to the King James.  But whatever version you read this from the great truths just seem to flow.  Look how concise Henry W. Baker puts this Psalm.

         “The king of love my Shepherd is,
          Whose goodness faileth never;
          I lack nothing if I am his
          And he is mine forever.”

    Spend just a few minutes looking just at verse one.  “There is nothing I lack” if the Lord is truly my Shepherd.  The NLT puts it this way, “…I have everything I need.”  WOW!  Just grasp ahold of that thought!  Paul surely understood it when he wrote, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NKJV)  Notice it is “need” singular for our only need is Christ, and if we have that we have everything I need.
    Look at the first five words:

         “The” — He is the only God; He isn’t a Lord; He is the Lord!
         “LORD” — This name emphasizes His amazing grace, love, and faithfulness to us.
         “Is” — Present tense verb shows that God lives.  He is the same today as He was yesterday.
         “My” — God is not an abstract power.  He is personal.
         “Shepherd” — He loves and cares for His sheep, even dying for them.

Listen, all we need for eternity is verse 1.  This is to understand God and be at home with Him.  It seems that we are always in the “asking mode” when in reality He has given us everything we need.  Perhaps we wish for and want more than we really need.  When it comes right down to it, when you are on death’s doorstep, what is it that you need?  More money, more time, more energy, or more of Jesus Christ?  A quick, simple glance at the remaining five verses and it is clear to see that we are not wandering in this life, but we are definitely being led.