Harbored in Jesus

Once I was drifting,
Lost and in sin,
Once I was dying,
Darkness within,
Then I met Jesus,
Received Him to be,
My Blessed Savior,
E - ter - nal - ly.

Harbored in Jesus,
Safe and secure,
Harbored in Jesus,
Safe E - ver - more

Harbored In Jesus

by D. M. Allen

This should remind one of Heb 6:17-20. 17

17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: {confirmed…: Gr. interposed himself by} 18
18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19
19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20
20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

There are two words (germane to the figure mentioned, below) )used in a text that suggest a Mariner’s figure. A ship coming in to harbor in an uncertain shore would send a volunteer (προδρομος: Forerunner) in a rowboat with an αγκυρα: anchor of the mother ship in this rowboat. The forerunner (interposed himself)would then row the boat through the pounding surf, and then, in calmer waters inside the breakwaters, turn the rowboat over to sink the anchor. Then the mother ship with at least two anchors holding fast outside the breakwaters, could more safely, pull themmselves into the Harbor - Safe and Secure. Although changing the words of the song slightly to match the anchor/forerunner verses and figure, above, these are the words Swede would sing when also playing this song. The lyrics (in red text) have been changed in the first verse of D. M. Allen’s great song for performance purposes.