Hymns often are a great source of theology. This Lord’s Day’s Song for the Bread was no different. Written by Isaac Watts, whenever I sing this hymn, if you can call it singing, I am undone. Typically, I end up reading along through blurry, tear-filled eyes.

 

How sweet and awesome is the place

With Christ within the doors,

While everlasting love displays

The choicest of her stores.

 

While all our hearts and all our songs

Join to admire the feast,

Each of us cries, with thankful tongue,

“Lord, why was I a guest?’

 

Why was I made to hear Thy voice,

And enter while there’s room,

When thousands make a wretched choice,

And rather starve than come?

 

‘Twas the same love that spread the feast

That sweetly forced us in;

Else we had still refused to taste,

And perished in our sin.

 

Pity the nations, O our God,

Constrain the earth to come;

Send Thy victorious Word abroad,

And bring the strangers home.

 

We long to see Thy churches full,

That all the chosen race

May, with one voice and heart and soul,

Sing Thy redeeming grace.

 

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