My God and Is Thy Table Spread
My God, and is Thy table spread
This hymn expresses the Lutheran understanding of the Sacrament as a gracious gift from God, emphasizing both divine mercy and the believer's grateful reception of Christ's benefits. The text reflects the evangelical Protestant emphasis on personal appropriation of salvation through faith in Christ at His table.
History & Background
Isaac Watts composed this hymn in 1707 as part of his Sacramental Hymns for the Lord's Supper. It was first published in Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707) and became one of Watts's most enduring Communion hymns for Protestant worship.
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 383
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 210
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 211
- Lutheran Service Book — 629
- Lutheran Worship — 245
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 307
Bulletin Note
Written by Isaac Watts in 1707, this Common Meter hymn reflects Protestant confidence in the believer's direct access to Christ's mercy through the Sacrament—a doctrine central to Lutheran piety and evangelical worship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the evangelical promise of the Gospel: that Christ's sacrificial meal is freely offered to all who believe, calling forth both gratitude and renewed dedication as fruits of faith.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Definition & Command of Communion Small Catechism — Holy Communion
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Law (fear and dread) to Gospel (glad tidings, peace, and God's grace revealed in Christ's birth)
Themes
Holy Communion God's grace Salvation Table fellowship Gratitude