Benjamin Hastings is a worship leader, both as a part of Hillsong United and as a solo musician. Hailing from Ireland, he found a home in the Australian Hillsong community, although he now resides in the United States. He pens lyrical masterpieces that many are probably already familiar with including "So Will I (100 Billion X)," "Gratitude," and "The Father's House." His role as a co-writer on these projects is just a fraction of his musical talent though, and he is intent on sharing his faith using his own voice as well. That's where his lead vocals come in on "So Will I" and the Hillsong Worship melody, "Come Alive."
Benjamin recently released his solo album, aptly titled Benjamin William Hastings, which is an extensive collection of songs showcasing his heart and his journey. We take a look at two of these anthems, below.
Eden (Isn't It Just Like You?)
See the empty grave is overgrown
And the earth begins to heal
For the enemy is overthrown
And the darkness finally yields
The entirety of this song is spent establishing the accurate connections between Adam and Eve and us as the children of God. To be realistic though, those aren't parallel lines. They are true depictions of heritage as the bondage of sin was passed down through generations to who we are today. Benjamin acknowledges this captivity and then spins it into the story of victory.
Jesus is redemption personified. He came down to this Earth to forgive us of the mistakes we made in the first garden, all the while representing salvation in a new garden himself. As the bridge of this song progresses, there is an increasing amount of passion channeled behind these lyrics. One after another, the many truths of freedom are laid out in beautiful rhetoric for the listener to behold. At the very end though, Benjamin hits his audience with one last statement and it is the ultimate truth. God has risen so "Eden's my eternity."
Homeward
'Cause what I learnt from waiting is waiting never lasts
You didn't bring me this far just to bring me back
No, You're too good for that
This anthem was released over a year ago, but I am eternally grateful that it has earned a spot in Benjamin's musical anthology because it is by far my favorite. More than just a thrown-together hopeful hit, this melody has been curated with care to position the right amount of power behind each word. However, that is not to say "Homeward" is manufactured because the authenticity shared is anything but stale.
When the world seems hopeless, hang on to the words of Jesus and they will guide you home. This song embodies God's voice lighting up our journey to Heaven.When we doubt the goodness of God, all we have to do is look back on the innumerable ways he has moved in the past and His righteousness is reaffirmed. Stemming off that is the lyric, "Should that road leave me lonely/Well I know that I am never alone." Originally, I was stumped as to why God would send us down a road on which we would feel the ache of loneliness. However, the second part of the verse is where Benjamin asserts that truly, we are never alone because of the constant presence of Jesus. Even on the days when our friends seem sub-par, our passions inadequate, and our family lacking, God stands strong as the constant provider by our side. On our way homeward, He is always holding you close.
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