What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 774)
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 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]
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]
Text: Elisha A. Hoffman; Music: Anthony J. Showalter; Public Domain
Devotion
During the height of apartheid, I was blessed to serve in an Indian mission in Merebank, South Africa. Most of the congregants came from the Hindu tradition. When they joined our Christian congregation, many of them were ostracized by their families. Coupled with racial segregation and the fear of being detained, they clung to their faith as their most precious possession. I learned from them that when one has so much, God can be relegated to the sidelines. But when you have only a hole in the floor for a toilet and only a blanket to sleep with on a cement floor, God is everything!
I cannot hear or sing this song without my heart filling with tremendous love for those faithful. They sang with conviction and swayed with their entire bodies when they sang “leaning on the everlasting arms.” They counted on God. God’s arms are lifelines for all of us.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for wrapping your arms around us and letting us lean on you. For holding us close, for your gracious gifts, for the feast you have promised, for your eternal love, we praise you. Accept our gratitude in Jesus’ name, Amen.