Oh Eden’s tree
The choice within their hands
As the serpent whispered from beneath
Where Your grace exceeds
The sum of all our lack
For I am Adam, I am Eve
Isn't it just like You
To turn it all around for good
Like only You could
Like only You would
You turn it all around for good
And when You do
You do it so it’s done for good
Like only You could
Like only You would
You turn it all around for good
Oh Calvary’s tree
The nails within Your hands
And laughter swept the crowds beneath
Where Your grace exceeds
The sum of all our lack
For I’m a thief upon a tree
Isn't it just like You
To turn it all around for good
Like only You could
Like only You would
You turn it all around for good
And when You do
You do it so it’s done for good
Like only You could
Like only You would
You turn it all around for good
Isn't it just like You
Just like You
Oh the vast extent of my regrets
And all my deepest fears
Were buried in a garden
Where You wept and bled in tears
For You climbed a hill not Yours to climb
They thought Your fate was sealed
For the serpent tried to take you down
But he only bruised Your heel
See the empty grave is overgrown
And the earth begins to heal
For the enemy is overthrown
And the darkness finally yields
So now I don't owe a thing to death
Should ever he appear
For death can only borrow breath
No longer can he steal
Isn't it just like You
To turn it all around for good
Like only You could
Like only You would
You turn it all around for good
And when You do
You do it so it’s done for good
Like only You could
Like only You would
You turn it all around for good
Isn't it just like You
Isn't it just like You to go and make it new
Isn't it just like You
It’s just like You
You’re making all things new
You don’t stop until it’s done
O tree of life
There’s hope in every branch
And the serpent’s nowhere to be seen
Where Your grace completes
The sum of all our lack
For I am Adam, I am Eve
And Eden’s my eternity
Benjamin William Hastings - Eden (Isn't It Just Like You?) (Official Acoustic Video)
Eden (Isn’t It Just Like You?) Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Benjamin William Hastings' song "Eden (Isn't It Just Like You?)" offers a profound reflection on the biblical narrative of redemption, tracing a line from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the redemptive sacrifice at Calvary and the promise of new creation. The lyrics open by drawing a direct parallel between the "Eden's tree" where humanity made a choice leading to sin and the "Calvary's tree" where Christ bore the penalty. This comparison highlights the human condition of lack and failure stemming from Eden, met by an exceeding grace found in Christ. The song immediately grounds the listener in this shared human experience, declaring "For I am Adam, I am Eve," acknowledging universal fallenness.
The central theme of the song is captured in the recurring question, "Isn't it just like You / To turn it all around for good?" This phrase serves as both a question of wonder and a declarative statement of faith in God's nature and power. It asserts that God's character is defined by His ability to take situations marked by sin, brokenness, and death, and redeem them, transforming them for ultimate good. The repetition emphasizes the certainty and reliability of this divine action, reinforced by the lines "Like only You could / Like only You would," suggesting that such a profound reversal is unique to God's character and power.
The song deepens this narrative by referencing the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ wept and bled, implicitly linking it to the burial of humanity's regrets and fears. The lyrics then move to the cross, describing how Christ "climbed a hill not Yours to climb" and faced what seemed like defeat. However, the song quickly points to the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the serpent bruising Christ's heel while Christ crushes the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). This imagery powerfully conveys the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death, despite the temporary appearance of suffering and defeat.
The narrative culminates with the empty grave, presented as overgrown and signifying healing and the overthrow of the enemy. This victory means freedom from the dominion of death; "death can only borrow breath / No longer can he steal." This truth transforms the believer's perspective, offering assurance that death is not the end but a conquered foe. The ultimate hope is revealed in the final stanza, pointing towards the "tree of life" where hope is abundant and the serpent is absent, signifying a return to a redeemed state, described as "Eden's my eternity."
The release of the official acoustic video for "Eden (Isn't It Just Like You?)" on November 17, 2022, provided listeners with an intimate and stripped-down presentation of this powerful message. This format often allows the lyrical and thematic depth of the song to resonate more profoundly. The song effectively weaves together key moments in biblical history—the Fall, Gethsemane, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the promise of restoration—into a cohesive declaration of God's consistent character as a redeemer who turns the worst circumstances around for ultimate good, ultimately leading His people back to the promised eternal Eden.
