Leaning on the Everlasting Arms - Bluegrass Gospel Hymn Cover by Sue Fidler

This popular gospel hymn is also known as "What a Fellowship." Elisha A. Hoffman (1839-1929) wrote the stanza, and Anthony J. Showalter (1858-1924) wrote the refrain. Showalter also contributed the music.

"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" is the result of an epiphany based on the text of Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (KJV). Showalter was a musician who conducted singing schools. He studied music in England, France, and Germany and served as an elder of First Presbyterian Church in Dalton, Georgia. Showalter was inspired by this Scripture after hearing the news that the wives of two of his former pupils had died and were buried the same day. In a letter of sympathy, he created the refrain out of a verse from Deuteronomy and asked Hoffman to write the stanzas. According to hymnologist Carl P. Daw, Jr., it appears that the Baptist Hymnal (1956) appropriately assigned SHOWALTER as the tune name for this song (Daw, 2016, 799-800).


Youtube Music: Leaning On the Everlasting Arms - Zachariah Hickman.mp3
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