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
My spouse is the Music and Communications Director at WestSide Lutheran, a mission-start congregation in the Sioux Falls area. We lead music together, and it’s been a part of our shared ministry since we attended Youth and Family Certification school twenty years ago. We play this hymn regularly, although I usually play violin while he plays guitar, and I don’t sing or read the words. As I take time to look at the words and consider how they might be connected to this week’s scripture texts, I am drawn to the image of feeling blessed, and at peace when in arms of comfort. I think of small children, as they melt into the arms of loved ones. As we get older, it can be difficult to rest in that assurance. But, as we are reminded of God’s claim on our lives, we too can be at peace, trusting in the promise of new life in Christ.
Prayer
God of peace, as we lean into your arms, grant us the peace we long for. Hold us in your everlasting arms and connect us with those whose embrace we no longer have the chance to hold. Amen.