Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

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Elisha Albright Hoffman composed more than two thousand gospel hymns. He was a Presbyterian who spent his life in the ministry, other than serving in the Union army during the Civil War for a brief time. Hoffman wrote Are You Washed in the Blood, Glory to His Name, I Must Tell Jesus, and many other hymns that are still popular today. In 1887, he penned one of my favorites, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

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.

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.

Many, many people have sung this song in the 118 years since Brother Hoffman wrote it. We used to sing it at school during music; great quartets and humble beginners have repeated the lyrics well. However, no one can sing it quite like Iris Dement.
Enjoy!

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