Reflections on the Psalms

Reflections on the Psalms by British author C. S. Lewis is a work of Christian literary and theological commentary in which Lewis, a popular Christian writer, examines the emotional and spiritual depth of the biblical Psalms. Blending personal insight with apologetic reflection, he considers themes of praise, judgment, death, and joy, acknowledging both the beauty and the challenges these ancient texts present to modern readers. In particular, Lewis emphasizes how, instead of being “sermons or instructions,” the Psalms convey moral and theological truth in poetic form. In this way, Lewis’s book functions as both biblical commentary and a guide to Christian devotion in the mid-20th century. 

Reflections on the Psalms was first published in 1958 and explores themes of Praise as a Natural Response to Divine Glory, The Tension Between Divine Justice and Human Vengeance, and Metaphor and Imagery as Vehicles of Faith.

This guide refers to the edition published by Mariner Books.

Note on terms: The text uses “pagan” and “paganism” to refer to ancient pantheist religions, terms that are now considered offensive. The text uses “Pagan” to refer to a practitioner of such a religion, and “pagan” to describe its practices. The guide uses these terms when quoting and paraphrasing Lewis.

Summary

In the introductory Chapter 1, Lewis explains that this will be a non-scholarly book for a lay audience. Further, Lewis will be treating the Psalms according to their true nature: as poetry rather than “doctrinal treatises” or “sermons.”

Lewis begins his survey with Chapter 2, “‘Judgement’ in the Psalms.” Carefully distinguishing between Christian and biblical Jewish conceptions of judgment, Lewis argues that many psalms rejoice in the prospect of God bringing justice to earth. Following on this theme, in Chapter 3, “The Cursings,” Lewis dives into one of the aspects of the Psalms that modern readers find troubling: the emphasis of some psalms on vengeance. Lewis argues for placing the vengeance psalms in their moral and historical context, one that emphasizes the need for divine justice and the Psalms as expression of human nature in both its creative and destructive aspects.

In Chapter 4, “Death in the Psalms,” Lewis sees an evolution in the Bible as a whole with toward a clearer belief in, and concern with, the afterlife. In contrast, Chapter 5, “The Fair Beauty of the Lord,” deals with the themes of joy and worship in the Psalms, especially as they relate to the love for God. This theme carries over into Chapter 6, “Sweeter than Honey,” in which Lewis examines the Psalms’ attitude toward the Law of Moses as a source of wisdom and joy.

Chapter 7, “Connivance,” analyzes the nature of humans’ participation in evil, while Chapter 8, “Nature,” looks at the Psalms’ complex attitude toward creation and the natural world. Lewis changes pace in Chapter 9, “A Word About Praising,” to consider a topic that he found personally difficult: the concept of praising God, which Lewis ties in with the “enjoyment” of God’s presence.

In the final three chapters, Lewis emphasizes literary analysis. Chapter 10, “Second Meanings,” considers the possibility of different levels of meaning in the Psalms; this idea is elaborated in Chapter 11, “Scripture,” which describes the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. The 12th and final chapter, “Second Meanings in the Psalms,” applies these insights to psalms traditionally seen by Christian theology as “messianic,” or referring prophetically to Jesus Christ.