The Banquet

The Lord's banquet table

A sight to behold

Every place neatly set

For the feast

What an honour to dine

With the Saviour, I thought

As I quietly

Slipped underneath

The sound of the guests

Now arriving

Made me scared

As I sat there, alone

Jesus sat in the chair

Right beside me

Why did He not sit

On His throne?

The guests sat around me

By thousands

None had either

Worry or care

The room was full;

Brimming right over

Aside from just one

Empty chair

I quietly sat there

Just taking it in

The laughter and joy

All around

And, without a word

I hastily ate

All the food that would fall

To the ground

The laughter was all

So iinviting

It was hard not to shout

With sheer glee

Caught up in the jubilation

Above me

I brushed against

Jesus' knee

Suddenly, the whole room

Was silent

As Jesus slid back

In His chair

He looked at me

Under the table

Asking, "My child,

Why are you there?"

I said, "I'm not worthy

To eat with You, Lord

I'm content just to

Feast on Your scraps."

"My child," Jesus said

Reaching out for my hand

"In the world whence you came,

Yes, perhaps.

But here at My table

Are morsels so fine

There's mutton, there's

Manna, and stew

And there, My sweet child,

That one empty chair

Is the place I have saved

Just for you."

The Lord sat me down

At His table

And I ate there

With tears in my eyes

I saw, now, my value

To Jesus

His love for me

Was not disguised

Since that day

My outlook is changing

I see myself

Like Jesus does

When I'm feeling down

I am able

To gaze at the sky

Up above

I no longer sit

Under the table

I no longer feel

I'm the least

From now on, I'll dine

With my Saviour

At His savoury,

Succulent feast

When I dine with the Lord

In His Kingdom

I will no longer

Eat from the floor

Jesus has chosen

A place just for me

And so, now,

I will sup with the Lord

Kelly Irwin

© February 2, 2002

Revised August 1, 2010