Bread From Heaven

A new hymn, to St George's Windsor

Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash

I was struck by the theme of bread from heaven coming again and again throughout the Old and New Testaments and decided to turn it into the hymn.

You can skip ahead to that if you want, but I thought I’d share the passages that flowed into the text first.

In Exodus (verse one of the hymn):

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

Exodus 16:4

Then in Jesus’ words from John 6 (verse two of the hymn), a longer stretch but worth reading in full to capture the logic that went into the hymn:

So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst

 I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

John 6:10-11, 30-35, 48-50

And again at the last supper (verse three of the hymn):

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

Matthew 26:26-29

And then in every time we celebrate communion together (verse four of the hymn).

The tune we picked is St George’s Windsor (Come Ye Thankful People Come), which you can find here:

Enjoy!

To St George's Windsor, 7.7.7.7D

Bread from Heaven falls like dew,
Feeding Israel, daily new.
Plentiful is God's supply
Ever given from on high.
Bread of heaven, feed us now.
At your feet we humbly bow.
In the bread, the wine, the word,
Be with us, our living Lord.
 
Bread from Heaven takes the loaves,
Breaks and feeds men in their droves.
Many thousands take and eat:
Sit and listen at his feet.
Bread of heaven, feed us now.
At your feet we humbly bow.
In the bread, the wine, the word,
Be with us, our living Lord.
 
Bread from Heaven breaks the bread,
"Soon, I go to die," he said.
Broken on a cross for you,
Blood like wine to make you new."
Bread of heaven, feed us now.
At your feet we humbly bow.
In the bread, the wine, the word,
Be with us, our living Lord.

Bread from Heaven, present here,
At your table, Lord, draw near.
Feed us with your living bread
Pour your blessings on each head
Bread of heaven, feed us now.
At your feet we humbly bow.
In the bread, the wine, the word,
Be with us, our living Lord.

And may he always be with you, your living Lord.