Join The Angel Choirs To Praise The NAME

Currently I am reading Dr Michael Ward's The Narnia Code, his fascinating book about the secret third level meaning of C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia. He explains his discovery in even more detail in his original work, Planet Narnia. I highly recommend that you read at least his FAQ on his website even if you do not read either of his two books. 

One of the things—among many others—that fascinated me was this quote, 

In pre-coperican times, Christians believed (as we still believe) that God ruled the universe. But as Lewis explains in The Discarded Image, medieval Christians believed that, in addition to man, God has made spirits of various kinds, sometimes called gods, deities, intelligences, or angels, to have authority under Him. Today, Christians often talk about angels but tend to avoid using the word gods,  assuming that it can refer only to "pagan gods." However, the Bible itself sometimes uses the word gods without referring to something occultic or evil. The most obvious place is in John 10:34-36, where Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 ("Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'?)

 Medieval Christians believed that not only had God created these various spirits, but that He had put seven of them in charge of the seven planets. Each planet was governed by its own god or angel, who in turn ruled over a different day of the week.

He then goes on to point out that the seven days of our week are each named after one of the so-called seven planets, with each planet governed by its own god or angel. 

• Saturn rules Satur-day
• Sun rules Sun-day
• Moon rules Mon-day
• Mars rules Tues-day (the Norse equivalent is Tyr or Tiw)
• Mercury rules Wednes-day (the Norse equivalent is Woden)
• Jupiter rules Thurs-day (the Norse equivalent is Thor)
• Venus rules Fri-day (the Norse equivalent is Freya or Frigg)

Our planet Earth also has a god or angel who was put in charge, but this ruling spirit rebelled and led a whole cohort of other angels to join him. For this he was cast out of heaven and confined to the earth (Luke 10:18; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 9:1; 12:7-8) Of him the Apostle Paul writes, 

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world (aion) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. - 2Cr 4:3-4 ESV

Jesus confronted the ruler of this world on a high mountain and resisted this ruler's temptation.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." - Mat 4:8-9 ESV

Interestingly, Jesus did not deny that the devil has such power. What he resisted was the temptation to kneel before this fallen angel and worship him, for the clear command is to worship the LORD alone (Deut. 6:13-14).

The Apostle John records other comments by the LORD Jesus about this world's ruler.

Now is the judgment of this world (kosmos); now will the ruler of this world (kosmos) be cast out. ... "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them." - John 12:31, 40 ESV

 What does all this suggest? That we need to take another look at how we view what we now call space or the universe, usually portrayed as a cold, dark, lifeless expanse of mere energy and light that expands ever outward since the Big Bang. But it is not at all as lifeless and empty of created beings as we are currently taught by our wise men—otherwise known as scientists and astro-physicists. It is teeming with spirits and life. The LORD challenges Job with this question,

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? - Job 38:4-7 ESV

Who are these morning stars that sang together on the days of creation? Who are these sons of God who shouted for joy? They are His angels, His messengers. These great spirits inhabit the universe and many other spirits fill the earth, controlling its winds and waves and storms—and many other events, as the Psalm says,

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers (Mal'akim) winds, his ministers (Sharathim) a flaming fire. - Psa 104:3-4 ESV

We miss them and their singing. We are not even aware of it, because their songs surround us. It is so much a part of our life that we do not hear their songs ever praising and giving glory to The Name! I invite you to join C.S. Lewis and those who love his writings to  acknowledge the presence of a countless multitude of great spirits, angels, cherubim and seraphim praising The Name in the stars and planets of the heavens above. And on the earth learn again of the magic and hear again the singing of sprites, nymphs, elves, fauns, faeries, gnomes, ogres, trolls and dryads in the winds and clouds, the streams, waterfalls and lakes, the mountains and forests.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. - Psa 19:1-4 NLT

As reborn children of God join the singing of this countless multitude to hallow and praise The Name that is above every name in the vast heavens beyond and on the earth, our home. Our Father in the heavens, hallowed be Your Name! 

Influence, C. S. Lewis and Sadhu Sundar Singh

In recent days I've shared with you the source of the pride-filled Nazi emphasis upon the supposed Aryan race. The word Aryan comes from the ancient Sanskrit arya and initially referred to those who spoke northern India languages. I've also commented about the influence of C.S. Lewis in my life. 


Now today I stumbled upon Sadhu Sundar Singh, an Indian holy man and convert to Christianity who lived and taught around the world in the early years of the twentieth century. Kathryn Lindskoog suggests he had a strong influence upon C.S. Lewis. 

Commenting upon Lewis'  reference to the Sura in That Hideous Strength, Lindskoog asks, "What did Lewis mean by the term Sura? In Sanscrit the word means god. In the Hindu pantheon, a sura is a good angel or genie. In Arabic a sura is one of the 114 chapters of the Koran. Lewis must have known all this when he chose the word. I believe that Lewis used the word sura because he was hinting at the word sadhu, which means a holy man in India. (As an adjective in Sanscrit, sadhu means straight.) If Lewis had actually called his Christian mystic the Sadhu, some readers might have believed that his tale was a true account about the famous Sadhu Sundar Singh.

A bit further in her article Lindskoog continues, "Sundar Singh may have influenced C. S. Lewis in several ways. For example, the name Singh comes from the Sanskrit word for lion. Because Sundar Singh was popularly perceived as the most Christ-like man in Lewis's day, it is possible that Sundar Singh was in the back of Lewis's mind when Aslan the lion came bounding into Lewis's first story of Narnia. (Aslan is the Turkish word for lion.)"

How many of us have been influenced by Lewis? And in recent years how many have loved the tales of Narnia, both in their written form and now as movies? The number reaches into the millions I am certain.

How strange and wondrous are the workings of our Lord who is at work in all things for our good (Romans 8:28). And how great are the blessings that await those of us who have been called by His name (1 Corinthians 2:8-9).