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1 What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
2 O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms. [Refrain]
3 What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms. [Refrain]
The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989
First Line: | What a fellowship, what a joy divine |
Title: | Leaning On the Everlasting Arms |
Author: | E. A. Hoffman (1887) |
Language: | English |
Refrain First Line: | Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms |
Notes: | Polish translation: See "Przyjaciela mam, co pociesza mnie" by Karol Hławiczka; Spanish translation: See "Dulce comunión que gozo ya" by Pedro Grado; Swahili translation: See "Ushirika mkuu, furaha yangu" |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Anthony J. Showalter received letters from two friends who had lost their wives about the same time. He wrote back to express his sympathy, and included a verse of Scripture: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV). As he thought about that text, he wrote the music and refrain to this hymn. He asked Elisha Hoffman to write the stanzas. The hymn was first published in 1887 in The Glad Evangel for Revival, Camp, and Evangelistic Meetings, for which Showalter was an editor.
The text has three stanzas and a refrain. The theme of the text is the peace that comes from knowing that God will protect us, and how that knowledge removes our fears.
The only tune to which this hymn is sung is SHOWALTER, written by the author, Anthony J. Showalter, when he wrote the text of the refrain. Sing in harmony, at least on the refrain, where the tenor and bass parts repeat “Leaning on Jesus” during the long notes of the women's voices.
This hymn is suitable for any time of year as a hymn of assurance. It can be sung in a variety of moods. The choral gospel medley “Back to the Church in the Wildwood,” which includes SHOWALTER, is written for a quick, upbeat tempo. A slower, peaceful mood also works well, as in this choral setting of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” The melody is simple enough to permit expressive variation, such as in “Everlasting Arms.”
Tiffany Shomsky, Hymnary.org