Reflection of the Psalms by C.S. Lewis
Introduction
In Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis delves into the numerous challenges people encounter with the Psalms. He examines themes such as judgments, attitudes of self-righteousness, curses, and other complex issues. Lewis approaches these topics not as an authority but as someone intimately familiar with these difficulties, having grappled with them.
Summary
“Judgment” in the Psalms
The Jews had a different outlook on justice than Christians today. While Christians today see themselves as the criminal, the Jews see themselves as the plaintiff. So, throughout the book of Psalms, we see the writers crying out for justice, and more than likely, the justice they were crying out for was earthly justice. Lewis states, “They look forward to ‘judgment’ because they think they have been wronged and hope to see their wrongs righted.”[1] As Lewis pointed out, this outlook often leads to self-righteousness, which is frequently terribly rebuked by our Lord.
The Cursings
Throughout the Psalms, the writers pronounce curses on their enemies and those who sin against God. Often, these curses were curses of bodily harm. Lewis states that these reactions of the Psalmists, for injury, were profoundly wrong. So, if the attitude and curses are profoundly wrong, how can we still make use of them? To answer this question, Lewis states that the absence of anger in the sight of evil would be most alarming. Although he thinks these reactions are profoundly wrong, he believes the core message of these passages should be stated: there is wickedness in this world, and we should detest wickedness.
Death in the Psalms
One misunderstanding Lewis pointed out is that most have read the Psalms and the rest of the Old Testament with the understanding that their writers had a complete understanding of Christian Theology. Lewis, on the other hand, believes it is clear that most of the Old Testament was written with little to no belief in a future life. If this is the case, then the Psalms need to be read in light of this. So, when the Psalms speak about the “soul," they just mean "life," and if they talk about "hell," they mean "the land of the dead.”[2]
“The fair beauty of Lord”
Lewis points out the joy and delight in God found in the Psalms. This joy and delight should give us joy and delight, as Lewis points out the most valuable part of the Psalms is that they express in him the same delight in God that made David dance. The exciting thing about this is that we have more reasons to love and delight in God than even the Jews. They did not know He offered eternal joy or would die for us. Even though they did not have this information, they still expressed a longing for Him and a love for Him that often surpasses ours. These psalms should teach Christians to delight in the Lord and constantly ask to dwell in His presence.
“Sweeter than Honey”
Lewis focuses on the psalms that discuss their delight in the Law of the Lord, specifically Psalm 119, which is devoted to the Law. When looking at the structure and writing technique of Psalm 119, Lewis states that this psalm does not seem to be an “outpouring of the heart"[3] but rather a well-thought-out poem. Lewis states, "It is a pattern, a thing done like embroidery, stitch by stitch, through long, quiet hours, for love of the subject and for the delight in leisurely, disciplined craftsmanship.”[4] The Psalmist's delight in the Law stems from the satisfaction of obeying it, which includes a clear conscience and a deep love for God.
Connivance
In this chapter, C.S. Lewis focuses on the Psalms that refer to their hatred toward God’s enemies and not becoming a part of them. Lewis points out that people often talk about the evil in this world but still, in a roundabout way, support that evil. The attitude behind these psalms of hatred and condemnation is an attitude of fear, fearing that they may approve of or justify the evil actions. Lewis states that silence is the best way to disapprove of these actions. People do not always notice silence, and it is not a forcible method so as to not have the appearance of priggery, as Lewis would say.
Nature
Lewis's focus in this chapter is the unique perspective the Jews had on nature. Most other pagan religions had a different outlook on nature. The pagan view of nature focused on things mainly after creation. As Lewis states, "When the curtain rises in these myths, there are always some 'properties' already on the stage, and some sort of drama is proceeding.”[5] The difference between this view and the Jewish view is that God created everything from nothing, and this unique view brings with it some different perspectives. First, if God created nature, then nature is separate from God. Second, nature is a symbol, an index, a manifestation of the Divine. These views make the psalmist's perspective on nature different from other cultures of their time.
A Word about Praising
In this chapter, Lewis struggles with the idea that God needs or craves praise from people. He does not see it as God "needs" praise but instead deserves praise because "that admiration is the correct, adequate or appropriate response.”[6] So we should praise God not in hopes of getting something from Him but rather because that is what He deserves or because that is the proper response to who He is.
Second Meanings
In these last three chapters, Lewis wrestles with the question of how to read the Psalms. He states that many read the Psalms, believing they contain allegories or have a second or hidden meaning. He struggles with this idea because, as he claims, anything can be read into any book.[7] Although Lewis says that we should be careful not to read too much into the Psalms, we cannot discard every second meaning as rubbish.
Intended Audience & Purpose of Book
C.S. Lewis writes this book for unlearned believers on topics he claims he is unlearned. He does not write the book for unbelievers because it is not a book of apologetics but rather for a better understanding of what believers already believe. Lewis writes this book as “unlearned” because he claims he can explain people's difficulties with the Psalms better than a master or educated man. This is because the master has moved so far past these difficulties that he has forgotten what is troubling others. Lewis also wants to ensure that the reader understands the Psalms and realizes that the Psalms are poems intended to be sung. So, they need to be read as poems since they are poems.
Lewis fulfilled his purpose for the book by covering many topics that are troubling to so many people. On the other hand, Lewis missed the mark of his intended audience. Lewis is such a well-educated and intelligent man that it seems he has difficulty bringing his scholarly level down to an "unlearned" level. Although he claims to be "unlearned" on this topic, his writing does not always show that. While he may not be a master in this field, he has more intelligence on this topic than most lay people.
Comparisons
One interesting comparison is between C.S. Lewis’s view of cursing and Derek Kidner’s view, focused mainly on Psalm 137:9. When Lewis looks at these psalms of hatred and retaliation, he sees them as profoundly wrong. One should not wish bodily harm on anyone else, even if they are the enemy. Retaliation is for God; it's not for anyone else to seek.
So, while Lewis sees these psalms as being profoundly wrong, Kidner does not have the same conclusion. He instead looks at the devastation the Babylonians did to the Jews and states, "This raw wound, thrust before us, forbids us to give smooth answers to the fact of cruelty.”[8] It seems that instead of seeing this psalm as profoundly wrong, he views it as a natural response to the devastation brought on by the Babylonians. He does, however, state that if we had come to the Psalmist at a cooler moment, he might have said things differently, but we did not: "It comes to us white-hot.”[9]
Although they seem to have different responses to whether these psalms are wrong, Lewis and Kidner agree on the core message of these psalms. Kidner states:
So this psalm takes its place in Scripture as an impassioned protest, beyond all ignoring or toning down, not only against a particular act of cruelty but against all comfortable views of human wickedness, either with regard to the judgment it deserves or to the legacy it leaves; and not least, in relation to the cost, to God and man, of laying its enmity and bitterness to rest.[10]
In the same way, Lewis states that the core message of these psalms, whether they have a wrong attitude or not, is to remind us of their real wickedness in this world and that this wickedness is hateful toward God.[11]
Recommendation
I recommend most of C.S. Lewis' books because they consistently offer profound insights. This particular book is no exception. While I may only share some of his beliefs on specific topics, Lewis presents intriguing perspectives and introduces unfamiliar ideas. The primary reason I endorse this book is its profound depth. It educates and prompts readers to reconsider the Psalms in ways they may not have considered before. This aspect is crucial because challenging our thinking is essential for personal growth.
Conclusion
C.S. Lewis's book addresses numerous enduring challenges that have troubled people for decades. His method of tackling these issues is both enlightening and provocative. While there may be some weaknesses in Lewis' approach, the book remains a valuable source from which we can glean significant insights.
