Sidewalk Prophets - Come To The Table Lyrics
Lyrics
We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
And Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us
He said come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thieves
There's no one unwelcome here
That sin and shame that you brought with you
You can leave it at the door
And Let mercy draw you near
Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
To the thief and to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the prisoner and the soldier
To the young and to the older
All who hunger all who thirst
All the last and all the first
All the paupers and the princes
All who’ve failed you've been forgiven
All who dream and all who suffer
All who loved and lost another
All the chained and all the free
All who follow all who lead
Anyone who's been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who have been labeled right or wrong
To everyone who hears This song
Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Video
Sidewalk Prophets - Come To The Table (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Sidewalk Prophets' "Come To The Table," from their 2015 album *Something Different (Deluxe Version)*, is an anthem of radical inclusion and unconditional grace, rooted deeply in the heart of the Gospel message. The song paints a vivid picture of humanity's starting point: on the "outside looking in," hungry and thirsty, in desperate need of redemption. This mirrors the biblical narrative of mankind's fallen state, as described in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The initial verses powerfully articulate the realization of our own inadequacy, the point where "all hope seemed lost," a sentiment that resonates with the prodigal son's desperate condition before his father's lavish welcome (Luke 15:11-32).
The central invitation, "He said come to the table," is a direct echo of Jesus' own ministry. He consistently sought out those on the margins, the "sinners who have been redeemed." The song’s invitation to "Take your place beside the Savior" and to "Sit down and be set free" speaks to the liberation found in Christ, as John 8:36 declares, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." The call to embrace a "motley crew of misfits," "liars," and "thieves" is not a suggestion of tolerance for sin, but an embrace of the reality that all are in need of God's transforming love. This echoes Jesus' own defense when questioned about eating with tax collectors and sinners: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). The instruction to "leave it at the door" refers to the heavy burden of sin and shame, a burden that is lifted by God's mercy, drawing us near as Psalm 34:18 promises, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
The song's bridge is a breathtaking catalogue of all of humanity, from "the thief and to the doubter" to "the pauper and the prince," encompassing "all who hunger all who thirst." This expansive inclusivity directly reflects God's desire for all people to come to Him, as articulated in 1 Timothy 2:4, "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." The declaration that "all who’ve failed you've been forgiven" is the very essence of the New Covenant, a testament to the sacrifice of Christ that offers atonement for all who believe. This is underscored by Ephesians 1:7, which states, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." The song's closing lines reiterate the liberating power of this invitation, ensuring that "anyone who's been let down" and "all the lost you have been found." This promise is a comforting reminder of God's redemptive work, a truth found in Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." "Come To The Table" is more than just a song; it's a profound theological statement wrapped in accessible language, inviting every soul to experience the boundless love and freedom offered at God's table.