Exegeting the Hymns #37 In Need

In Need
w/m Ross King – (Luke 15:14, Philippians 4:19)

In need of grace
In need of love
In need of mercy raining down
From high above
In need of strength
In need of peace
In need of things
That only You can give to me

In need of Christ the perfect Lamb
My refuge strong, the Great I Am
This is my song my humble plea
I am Your child I am in need

One of the dangers that worship leaders fall into is a lack of balance. For a worship leader like me who searches for profound theological teaching songs, I need to remember that sometimes, we need a refrain. We need to balance the deep levels of input with a simple chorus of output. That is why so many hymns and songs are written with verses and choruses, or refrains built into them. Some songs/choruses however, are written to be just for that purpose.

This song is just such a song. It is one verse and one chorus, but the thing I love about it is, while it can be sung as a simple heartfelt melody, if one takes the time to say… exegete the song, you’ll find a lot of good truth in it too.

In need of grace. In need of love. In need of mercy raining down from high above. Very simple, but there’s so much in that. One only needs to read Romans 1–3 to see the state of depravity into which we are all born. All have sinned, there are none righteous, we are all under the wrath of God, there are none that understand, none that seek after God. We are without excuse, unable to save ourselves. Without grace and mercy and love, we are justly bound for an eternity in the lake of fire. We need grace. We need love. We need mercy, but not just grace, love and mercy from anywhere. The answer cannot be found from within (although that is a popular false teaching today), nor can it be found in this world. It must be found from up above, from the one who judges, from the one we have offended.

In need of strength. In need of peace. In need of things that only You can give to me. While the first half of the verse speaks of our need in salvation, the second speaks of the needs we have after our conversion. We need strength. God promised Israel in Isaiah 58, “The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun–scorched land and will strengthen your frame.” Isaiah 40 says, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.”  In looking at the ones God chose, He says, “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”  

We are in need of strength. We also need peace. In John 14, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”  While we are made new in Christ, we still have needs because we live in fallen flesh in a fallen world. That world tries to fulfill those needs, but only God can truly meet them. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

In need of Christ the perfect Lamb. My refuge strong, the Great I Am. Our reliance on God cannot be overstated. We depend on Him for everything, and as a good Master, He supplies our needs and loves us unconditionally. He also is our refuge and safety in the storms of life. This is my song my humble plea. I am Your child I am in need. Ross King gives us some insight into this last line of the chorus by letting us know he drew from Luke 15:14 in the parable of the prodigal son. The son who ran away from his father who loved and provided for him came back humbled. The father, who represents our Heavenly Father loved that son as a child. Our Father has made us to be sons and joint heirs with Jesus Christ and is preparing a seat at the table, a place in heaven, and is providing for our every need.

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