Benjamin William Hastings – Eden (Isn’t It Just Like You?)

Benjamin William Hastings has been a writer for the Hillsong megachurch since 2013. He released his self-titled album in 2022.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Benjamin-william-hastings-eden-isnt-it-just-like-you-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Hastings draws imagery from the Garden of Eden and the hill where Jesus was crucified to make the same two points: Hastings is a transgressor of the law and the Son of God liberated him from the second death through His death and resurrection. Hastings will spend his eternity with God, within the second Eden and its associated tree of life.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song does.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-3: References the events in Genesis 3:1-7.

Lines 4 and 5: Had Adam and Eve been allowed to stay in the garden, they would have lived forever there (Genesis 3:22), hiding from God (Genesis 3:8) for all eternity.  Thus, they would have entered a state of eternal separation from God (Matthew 18:7-9, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Romans 6:23, Jude 1:7, and Revelation 14:11).  God kicking them out of Eden in Genesis 3:23-24 rescued them from this fate.

Line 6: Hastings identifies with the faults and failures of Adam and Eve as summarized in Jeremiah 17:9.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-7: As stated in Genesis 50:20.

Lines 8-10: Repeats lines 3-5.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: Also known as Golgotha or “the skull”, Calvary is where Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, and John 19:17). The English name “Calvary” derives from the Vulgate Latin “Calvariae”, which means “skullcap”.

Line 3: That is, Jesus was mocked (Matthew 27:27-30, Matthew 27:39-44, Mark 14:65, Mark 15:16-19, Mark 15:29-32, Luke 23:11, Luke 23:39, and John 19:3).

Lines 4 and 5: Repeats Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

Line 6: Makes the same point as Verse 1, line 6, except the reference is the thieves to Jesus’ left and right (Matthew 23:29, Mark 15:27-32, and Luke 23:33).

[Post-Chorus (1)]

Lines 1 and 2: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 1.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-6: According to John 19:41, Jesus was buried near a garden. Of course, he was not literally weeping in blood and tears there, as He was already dead! However, line 5 clarifies that the bloody tears represent His crucifixion, which has been covered in Verse 2, lines 1 and 2.

Lines 7 and 8: References Genesis 3:15.

Lines 9-12: This is so, because Christ defeated death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).

Lines 13-16: Ultimately, those who are God’s will live eternally with Him (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).  Death cannot take that away.

[Post-Chorus (2)]

Lines 1-4: Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus, line 1.  Line 2 contains a reference to Revelation 21:5.

Line 5: Essentially repeats the last part of line 2.

Line 6: God will complete what He desires on His timetable, not ours (2 Peter 3:9).

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: References Revelation 22:2.

Line 3: That is because He will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

Lines 4 and 5: Repeats Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

Lines 6 and 7: Not the Eden that Adam and Eve sinned, but the new Eden where Hastings will inherit eternal life.  See Scripture on this topic within my commentary on Bridge, lines 13-16.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song is written in everyday language, with words like “Eden”, “Adam”, “Eve”, “Calvary”, and “tree of life” that point to the familiar Genesis account and the place where Jesus died. Unbelievers should easily walk away thinking that this song teaches on unified message: God takes the terrible things that happen in our lives and turns them around for good. He wants them to receive eternal life with Him.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the One who died and rose again for Hastings’ redemption.  Hastings will spend eternity thanking Christ for what He’s done.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Benjamin William Hastings’ Eden (Isn’t It Just Like You?) is wonderful.  It reminds us that Jesus loves us despite our failures, willing to die for our faults and pay for our redemption so that we’d inherit eternal life.  He rose from the dead and will welcome us home, as we eat from the new tree of life.  These points bring Him glory.  Unbelievers will conclude similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Eden (Isn’t It Just Like You?) (listen to the song)

Artist: Benjamin William Hastings

Album: Benjamin William Hastings

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 4:36

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