Lewis writes here about the difficulties he has met or the joys he has gained in reading the Psalms. He points out that the Psalms are poems, intended to be sung, not doctrinal treatises or sermons. Proceeding with his characteristic grace, he guides readers through both the form and the meaning of these beloved passages in the Bible.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Inspiring & Thought provoking:
C.S. Lewis' thoughts on the Psalms are, like the rest of his writing, very carefully thought out. He finds nuggets of wisdom in places most commentators overlook. Over all, a very enjoyable & thought provoking work.
Lewis' hidden gem:
In most, if not all, of Lewis' non-fiction works, he, at some point, refers and appeals to "real theologians", perhaps, in an attempt to distinguish the framework of his opinions, thoughts, and understanding from individuals that have been formally educated in theology. While Lewis certainly appeared to dedicate a great deal of his time to theology, he continually reminded readers that he was not a formally educated theologian, nor did he consider himself an expert. In Reflections on the Psalms, however, it... more info
Meditative but also literary contemplation of the Psalms:
This was a lovely book: not what I thought it'd be and all the better for it. Lewis's clear and reassuring insights into Christianity here combine with his adroit literary criticism, making this one of his most "formal" books--this is true despite his typical disclaimers about its seriousness or depth at the beginning. It is not so much a set of "postcard" or fortune cookie reflections, as might be found in various mediation books, as a thoughtful pondering of the Psalms' formal characteristics.more info
Not what I was looking for, but all the better!:
In ordering this book, I had hoped Lewis would go into indepth reflections on the psalms; he does not. Instead he explore themes that influenced the psalms, he looks at certain misunderstandings, such as those people who are inclined to put pagan mythology and scripture on the same plane. He also draws out themes from the psalms, such as royalty, looks at what they meant in the ancient world, and what they mean in the Christian context. Additionally he does look at various passages from the psalms, and... more info
