Today’s hymn comes from the days I spent worshiping in a small Baptist Church.   The building may not have been large, but every pew was filled and oh could they sing!  No hymnals were needed, no words in a bulletin; this song had long since been committed to memory.  They stood, they held hands, and they sang with all their hearts.

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.

The hymn was written by Elisha A. Hoffman (1839-1929) in 1887.  In his lifetime he is known to have written more than 2,000 gospel songs.   The tune was written by Showalter.

This hymn was inspired by Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (KJV). As the hymn is sung, contemplate what it means to find refuge in our heavenly Father’s arms in times of fear and trial, and to allow His joy and peace to replace our loneliness and anxiety.

Here’s a version you may enjoy, sung by the Redeemed Quartet.

Judy