CS Lewis Hated the Psalms - Is this "Mere Christianity"?
CS Lewis - author of Mere Christianity - said some Psalms are "diabolical", "petty", "vulgar", "terrible" and "contemptible".
Lewis assumed that the imprecatory Psalms are David's own personal cursings. And thus, Lewis thought that the imprecatory Psalms were "diabolical". After all, the Scripture forbids men to curse. And since the imprecatory Psalms contain cursing, Lewis concluded that these Psalms are "un-Christian".
Sadly, Lewis did not see the other option (the imprecatory Psalms are actually Christ cursing his enemies, the reprobate)
Christ says, "But these HOSTILE to me, those not desiring me to reign over them, bring them here and EXECUTE THEM BEFORE ME." (Luke 19:27)
...And here's an Article on How we should interpret the Psalms in general...
The following quotes below will be interesting to you. They are written by James E Adams (no physical relation to the writer Jay E Adams) and taken from James' book, "War Psalms of the Prince of Peace - Lessons from the Imprecatory Psalms." In the words below (which have been edited and cut back for space sake), Adams explains how he came to see Christ, not David in the Psalms.
My favorite part is when he challenges us with, "How you wondered whether the Psalmist's prayers, "May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed, ... may they perish in disgrace" (6:10, 83:17) are an expression of sinful revenge, as some writers say? Too many sincere Christians rush past such expressions as if shielding their faces from the heat of hatred, quickly moving on to other sections where they find more comfortable language. But is this a proper response to any part of God's Word? Or is it merely a cop-out?"
You have got to love that chastising logic!
Anyways, here's Adams' full explanation of what he means...
"My special interest in the Psalms was sparked by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones in the summer of 1969. In his last message at a pastor's conference in PA he said to us:
"Look at the Psalmist. Look at some of those imprecatory Psalms. What are they? ...
Lewis assumed that the imprecatory Psalms are David's own personal cursings. And thus, Lewis thought that the imprecatory Psalms were "diabolical". After all, the Scripture forbids men to curse. And since the imprecatory Psalms contain cursing, Lewis concluded that these Psalms are "un-Christian".
Sadly, Lewis did not see the other option (the imprecatory Psalms are actually Christ cursing his enemies, the reprobate)
Christ says, "But these HOSTILE to me, those not desiring me to reign over them, bring them here and EXECUTE THEM BEFORE ME." (Luke 19:27)
...And here's an Article on How we should interpret the Psalms in general...
The following quotes below will be interesting to you. They are written by James E Adams (no physical relation to the writer Jay E Adams) and taken from James' book, "War Psalms of the Prince of Peace - Lessons from the Imprecatory Psalms." In the words below (which have been edited and cut back for space sake), Adams explains how he came to see Christ, not David in the Psalms.
My favorite part is when he challenges us with, "How you wondered whether the Psalmist's prayers, "May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed, ... may they perish in disgrace" (6:10, 83:17) are an expression of sinful revenge, as some writers say? Too many sincere Christians rush past such expressions as if shielding their faces from the heat of hatred, quickly moving on to other sections where they find more comfortable language. But is this a proper response to any part of God's Word? Or is it merely a cop-out?"
You have got to love that chastising logic!
Anyways, here's Adams' full explanation of what he means...
"My special interest in the Psalms was sparked by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones in the summer of 1969. In his last message at a pastor's conference in PA he said to us:
"Look at the Psalmist. Look at some of those imprecatory Psalms. What are they? ...
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