LET US REJOICE, THE FIGHT IS WON!

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

Let us rejoice, the fight is won!
Darkness is conquered, death undone –
Life triumphant! Alleluia!
So age to age each nation grows
More like the heart of Him who rose.

Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Joy comes again! All shall be well,
Friends severed now, in Heaven shall dwell
Reunited! Alleluia!
The end of all our ways is love,
Then rise with Him to things above.

Thou boundless power, Thou God on high,
How could Thy children fear to die?
Joy immortal! Alleluia!
Thy right rewards, Thy love forgives;
We know that our Redeemer lives!

Easter! The Christian’s time for greatest rejoicing, because “we know that our Redeemer lives”! There is much meaning in this song as we celebrate differently this year amid a global pandemic previously unknown in our 21st century. Some readers may have recently experienced the illness or loss of a loved friend or family member. It is hoped that words of Easter jubilation will somehow be more to them than mere platitudes – at least, perhaps in future days.

Like many authors of familiar old hymns, Percy Dearmer (1867-1936) lived through some tumultuous times: World War 1, the Spanish Flu Epidemic, and the Great Depression. He was a British vicar who served as chaplain to the Red Cross in Serbia during World War 1, and held various other prominent ecclesiastical posts. He also edited or compiled several hymnals. In 1931 Dearmer was appointed to the prestigious position of Canon of Westminster.