Zach Williams – To the Table

Christian rock artist Zach Williams, formerly Zach Williams & The Reformation, Brothers of Grace, and Zach Williams & the Brothers of Grace before going solo in 2016.  He released two albums under his current name: Chain Breaker (2016) and Rescue Story (2019).  he also released two EP’s: Chain Breaker (2016) and Survivor: Live from Harding Prison (2018).

He won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (Chain Breaker, 2018) and two GMA Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year (2017) and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (Chain Breaker, 2017).

When you have some time, check out my reviews of Williams’ Chain Breaker, Fear is a Liar, and Old Church Choir.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Zach-williams-to-the-table-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

In the same vein as the servant invites others to God’s banquet in Luke 14:15-24, so too does Williams implore his listeners to join the party.  He provides a soft Gospel message, that we should come to God with our sin, not in part but the whole.  Williams makes it clear that forgiveness requires Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and repentance through confession.  There’s no reason to hide anything because God knows everything about us.

Though the name “God” is not mentioned, the references to God’s omniscience and the cross clarify the song’s meaning.

Side Note: Just because we come to God as we are doesn’t mean we have to stay as we are!  Repentance is the first step of a lifelong journey to sanctification.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of these lyrics are in agreement with God’s Holy Word.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: The voice of the Lord, who is love (1 John 4:8), calls out to us (John 5:25, John 10:1-27, Hebrews 3:7-19, and Revelation 3:20).

Line 2: This is best understood within the context of Jesus’ Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:15-24.  The chair that awaits is the reserved seat for those who accept the servant’s invitation, itself a word-picture of the Kingdom of God.  Williams invites us to join the feast, representing the Heavenly Kingdom.

Lines 3 and 4: That is, Jesus personally knows our temptation because He went through it (Hebrews 4:15).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Williams laments that his listeners refuse to budge, walling in our dark past (Proverbs 4:19, John 1:5, John 3:19-21, and John 11:10).  Undeterred, he makes another push, compelling us to enter God’s light that drives out the darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

[Chorus]

Line 1-5: The “table” is a popular idiom, referencing that which under consideration.  In this case, it is the entire sum of our lives that Williams asks us to “leave on the table” so that God can deal with it.  Williams is asking us to repent and trust in Jesus (Acts 3:19-21).

It could possibly refer to the Passover table commonly referred to as the last supper (Matthew 26:17–30, Mark 14:12–26, Luke 22:7–39 and John 13:1–17:26).

We may as well be honest because God knows everything about us (1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 44:21, Psalm 139:4, Psalm 147:4-5, Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 10:30, John 16:30, John 21:17, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, and 1 John 3:20)!

[Verse 3]

Lines 1 and 2: See commentary in Chorus, last paragraph.

Line 3:  Christ paid the penalty for our lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).  As mentioned in Chorus, we must repent and trust in Christ to receive forgiveness; However, this is not possible without Jesus’ shed blood.

Line 4: Christ did not die while we were righteous and cleaned up.  He did it while we were sinners (Romans 5:6-8).  This gives us up in that God will accept us, dirty, marred, broken.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: Don’t hold back!

Lines 3-5: This still falls under the banquet parable mentioned in Verse 1, line 2.  Everyone receives an invitation.  God’s desire is for all to repent and trust (2 Peter 3:9).

Line 6: Grace is not earned, but given to those who receive it (Matthew 5:20, Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).

Lines 7-10: Repeats lines 3-6.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Although the song makes heavy reference to the Parable of the Banquet, the advantage of Williams’ lyrics is that most unbelievers will intuitively comprehend its meaning without studying the parable.  Those outside the camp of Christ will likely interpret this as inviting listeners to become Christians.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God with its soft Gospel message.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Zach Williams’ To the Table is an excellent song for unbelievers.  It invites those who do not yet know Jesus to enter into a personal relationship with Him, with all their dirty brokenness, with no reason to leave anything out, bringing Him glory.  Confession and trust in the One who died for us is the first step to healing, finding forgiveness for breaking His Laws.  It also serves as a reminder to believers about where we came from, instilling compassion to invite others as Williams has done.

If you’re looking for an altar call tune I highly recommend this song.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: To the Table (listen to the song)

Artist: Zach Williams

Album: Chain Breaker

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2016

Duration: 4:00

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/26/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.