History of the Hymn
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
MUSIC WRITTEN BY: Anthony Showalter
WORDS WRITTEN BY: Elisha Hoffman
HYMN HISTORY: In 1887 Anthony J. Showalter had received some sad news from friends about loved ones who
had died; and in his reply letter he included the verse, Deuteronomy 33: 27. “The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy”.
But after thinking on the verse even more he thought that those words would be a great theme for a hymn. He
immediately wrote the words for the refrain and music for the hymn we are about to sing. But he needed help
for with the stanzas so he went to see Elisha Hoffman author of over 2000 gospel hymns. Hoffman provided the
stanzas and Showalter the refrain and music to this hymn
HYMN LYRICS:
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.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
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:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
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