Elisha Hoffman was a faithful 19th century Presbyterian pastor serving congregations in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. During his life, he published nearly 2000 hymns and songs–including “Are You Washed in the Blood?” “Down at the Cross,” “Draw Me Closer, Lord, to Thee,”Hallowed Hour of Prayer,” “What a Wonderful Savior!” “Sing of Jesus,” and of course, his most enduring work, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”
That great hymn is most often sung to a tune written by another Presbyterian pastor, A. J. Showalter, who served for most of his ministry in Dalton, Georgia. Nearly as prolific as Hoffman, in his life he published more than 130 music books, which sold more than a million copies. They included the tunes for “After the Life-Paths,” “Draw Me Closer, Lord, to Thee,” “Like a Wayward Child I’ve Wandered,” and “Waves of Salvation.”
Their collaboration, written in 1887 for two friends who had recently lost loved ones, offers the only sure antidote to the sundry fears, dreads, and worries which so easily entangle and ensnare all of us:
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.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
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.
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.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
