Back to all lyrics
Artwork for Light and Gladness and Joy

Esther 8:1-17

Light and Gladness and Joy

Lyrics · Esther

Light and Gladness and Joy

Esther 8:1-17

Lyrics

About this song

About this song

This song belongs to the Esther collection. One recording is available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.

Bible book
Esther
Collection
Esther
Musical styles
World Music
[Verse 1] Ahasuerus gives Haman's house to Esther on the day of his execution. Mordecai is brought into the royal presence. Mordecai receives the ring and Esther appoints him over Haman's estate. She pleads for Haman's destructive device against the Jews to be removed. [Pre-Chorus] The long night ended, fear released its hold, And every household heard the story told. [Chorus] Light and Gladness and Joy, let the feast begin, Joy returned where grief and fear had been. The people sang because the word held true, And every generation learned what God could do. [Verse 2] Because a sealed royal writing cannot be reversed, a counterdecree must be created. Scribes are called on the twenty-third day of Sivan. Mordecai dictates to rulers and peoples across all one hundred twenty-seven provinces. Letters are sealed with the king's ring and sent by swift royal posts. [Bridge] The riders hasten outward from Shushan under royal command. Mordecai leaves the king in blue, white, fine linen, purple. Shushan rejoices as the Jews receive light, gladness, joy. Feasting spreads through the provinces, and many join the Jews because fear falls upon the land. [Final Chorus] Light and Gladness and Joy, let the feast begin, Joy returned where grief and fear had been. The people sang because the word held true, And every generation learned what mercy still could do. [Outro] The feast became a memory to keep. Joy learned the name of those who once would weep.

Named in this songHamanEstherMordecai

About the passage

Esther 8: The first decree cannot simply be erased

Haman is gone, but the policy he set in motion survives him. His estate passes to Esther, Mordecai receives the signet once held by Haman, and Esther discloses her family relationship to Mordecai. Those reversals at the centre do not cancel letters already sealed and distributed. Esther therefore falls before Ahasuerus again and asks him to reverse the order threatening her people. The king answers with the rule that a sealed royal writing cannot be revoked, then authorizes Esther and Mordecai to issue another decree in his name. The second writing mirrors the first in scale, languages, urgency, and severe vocabulary, but now permits the Jews to assemble and stand for their lives against those who attack them. As the couriers leave, Mordecai appears in royal clothing and Shushan rejoices. Public perplexity gives way to gladness before the appointed day has even arrived.

Study Esther 8 in depth