Behind Lewis’s Lions

Searching the Bible for C.S. Lewis’s Lions

by

Mary Tilden

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Mary Tilden

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Table of Contents

Study’s Purpose

Chapter 1 – Concerning Judgment, Justice, and Lions

Chapter 2 – Lions in All Their Glory

Chapter 3 – Crowning Lions with Authority

Chapter 4 – The Coming of the Conquering Lion

Chapter 5 – Viewing Lions in the Dark

References

About the Author

Study’s Purpose

To find the source of C.S. Lewis’s inspiration for lions, I pulled down Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, flipped to the pages with the words lion and lions, and looked up every verse under the listings in my English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible. The results were astounding. To explore every possible reason behind Lewis’s fascination with lions, and to learn why he made Aslan a lion, I researched and wrote several thoughts on the various significances of lions in the Bible.

Living to the best of our potential, where we pursue every activity with gumption and integrity, requires much encouragement. And while this study may only contain thoughts about greater theological ideas, I hope to bring to you some quote or insight that will positively influence your life. Maybe a thought will make your coworker more loveable, or a quote will make a disagreement with a friend less serious. Whatever the problem, I pray this study helps you look at life in a brighter light.

Chapter 1 – Concerning Judgment, Justice, and Lions

Two velvet-footed lions came bouncing into the open space, their eyes fixed upon each other, and started playing some solemn romp.

- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

“’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”

- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Confronted with two ferocious lions, which ordinarily present a real-life danger to any person without the added hazard of their unearthly solidity, the hero of The Great Divorce quickly set off to find different – or should we say safer – company.

Those of you who have read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis might remember the solid people and their indestructible landscape, where the hero and his unpleasant companions were deposited from an interdimensional bus. Certainly you remember a conversation or two between a solid person and a ghost. But where – and how – do the lions fit into the story?

Finding Judgment and Justice in Lewis’s Lions

Judgment and justice are frequently incorporated into children’s play. For example, children play cops and robbers. Understanding that people receive punishment when they break the law, children usually allow the cops to catch the robbers in their play scenarios. They ensure judgment and justice prevail. In the animal kingdom, lions fight over leadership and corrupt acts performed in the pride. And, as C.S. Lewis outlined in The Great Divorce, they play like they fight.

Aslan ruled Narnia with judgment and justice. Mystery surrounded the great Lion, but the loyal and upright citizens of Narnia knew Him well. So when Lucy met with the beavers, asking about Aslan’s behavior, she received a just answer. Aslan resembled no earthly beast. He was an untamed beast, but good. The sons and daughters of Adam, and every upright citizen of Narnia, could love Aslan freely, for the untamed Lion only charged the wicked.

When Disobedient Prophets Meet Obedient Lions

Understanding that the lions in the following stories acted according to God’s will is vital to understanding how lions served as God’s tools when punishment needed carrying out. Read the following Scripture:

•1 Kings 13:11-28

•1 Kings 20:35-36

In regard to 1 Kings 13, any regular lion would have eaten the body, satisfying its ravenous appetite, and then attacked the donkey, which the man had ridden. But this lion merely stood next to the body as people passed by on the road, refraining from laying a single velvety paw on man or donkey. Noting the peculiar behavior, the ESV Study Bible (2007) stated the lion was ordained by God. Matthew Henry’s Commentary (1961) went further, saying that God showed mercy in stopping the lion from devouring the man’s body. But the man of God was deceived, so why kill him? As The Apologetics Study Bible (2007) pointed out, he disobeyed his own clear instructions from God.

The execution sentence – death by lion – performed in 1 Kings 20 emphasized the point made in the first passage: No one is impervious to God’s judgment (ESV, 2007). If God ended a prophet’s life for disobedience, He would also end a king’s life. Using lions was an ominous warning to kings if they proved disobedient (MHC, 1961).

Lions Sent as Punishment to Lost Nations

And to groups of people representing small nations, the subheading should read. When God decided to enforce judgment on Earth, He called on lions for more than the occasional naughty prophet. To understand the size of the game God gave to the lions, read the following Scripture:

•2 Kings 17:24-26

•Isaiah 15:9

Jealous and mighty, God wants our exclusive worship, and He showed this to the people residing in Samaria in 2 Kings 17. Coming from diverse nationalities that worshiped lesser gods, the people neglected God, and some of them paid the consequence with their lives (ESV, 2007). Interesting that God chose lions to do the job. However, the MHC (1961) found the use of lions unsurprising. It commented on too few people populating Samaria, and the lion invasion to be a natural occurrence as well as a divine occurrence. In relation to divine occurrence, the lion invasion checked the people’s pride, causing them to fear God’s judgment.

Doomed for destruction, the Moabites in Isaiah 15 thought they could escape their invaders by hiding or fleeing their city. God, who mourned for their devastation but had other plans, prevented their escape (ESV, 2007). He sent lions to meet those who fled and to scavenge for those in hiding (Apologetics, 2007). Thus all the Moabites met a grisly end.

Keeping Lions on the Good Path

Overlooking the first lion’s odd behavior, God had only appointed lions, up to this point, to do what was already in their nature to do – ravage and destroy. In this next story, one which everyone who attended Sunday school as a child will remember, divine intervention was required to stop lions from serving in an evil scheme. Read the following Scripture:

•Daniel 6

Already we have seen God using lions and their natural instincts to serve His purposes, proving that, while dangerous and destructive, the lion’s way is good. But good can quickly turn to evil when in the wrong hands. The Medo-Persian presidents and rulers intended for Daniel to die in the lions’s den, yet they failed to consider the help Daniel would receive in response to his unwavering trust in God (ESV, 2007). So to save Daniel, an angel shut the mouths of the lions, and in so doing, saved them from participating in an attack against the righteous.

Lions Representing God’s Judgment

Violent and fierce, lions served as the perfect example for God’s sudden judgment, which often came in the form of warring nations. Both major and minor prophets spoke of lions and lionesses when referring to their enemies. For examples of such references, read the following Scripture:

•Jeremiah 5:6

•Hosea 13:7

Considering how often God used lions to punish the disobedient, the analogies fit well. And the number of times God appointed lions to perform His will might explain why C.S. Lewis included lions in The Great Divorce’s heavenly realm. Lions played their divine roles well on Earth, why not welcome them to eternity? This might also be why Lewis made Aslan a lion, at least in part. Other reasons behind Lewis’s fascination with lions exist, and they will be explored in later thoughts.

What did you think? Are lions and all wild creatures a force for good, or did a few lions get lucky when God appointed them to perform His Will?

Chapter 2 – Lions in All Their Glory

Two velvet-footed lions came bouncing into the open space, their eyes fixed upon each other, and started playing some solemn romp.

- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Then with a roar that shook all Narnia from the Western lamppost to the shores of the Eastern sea the great beast flung himself upon the White Witch.

- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Rising on their hind legs, the lions swatted at each other with their massive paws. Their strangely solid bodies rammed together with shocking force, its sound reverberating through the still clearing. Striking at an advantageous angle, one lion pummeled the other to the ground and grabbed its neck with its mighty jaws, but the other undercut the one and struggled to its feet again….

What great power the lions possess in C.S. Lewis’s works. To see the “solemn romp” in The Great Divorce, to envision its progress, requires little imagination. But did C.S. Lewis portray his lions from a purely general viewpoint, or was his portrayal more biblical in origin?

Identifying Characteristics of Lewis’s Lions

Romping around sounds like an ideal way for lions to spend their time in eternity. With their sources for survival close at hand – possibly overflowing without chance of shortage – they truly lived in luxury in God’s kingdom. So, having nothing better to do, the lions played. And in their play, they revealed their true characteristics: strength, power, and authority.

C.S. Lewis readers might be shifting in their seats and calling out the name of another lion that showed strength, power, and authority: Aslan, Lord of Narnia. Displaying more strength and courage than any regular lion, Aslan had readers cheering when he launched himself at the wicked White Witch. His heroic actions ended winter, allowing spring to bloom as four new kings and queens took their places on the thrones.

Lions and Their Strength

Some people may visualize bodybuilders with bulging muscles when they consider strength. Others may picture iron clamps. Living in a day when people travelled through the wilderness, biblical authors envisioned lions. Read the following Scripture:

•Numbers 23:21-24

•Deuteronomy 33:20-21

In Numbers 23, the author depicted a lion devouring its prey to symbolize Israel’s military strength (ESV, 2007). Looking into this passage explains much about Israel’s military, and about lions. For example, the Israelites feared nothing from their enemies, planned to destroy them, and fought them until their veins ran dry (Apologetics, 2007; MHC, 1961). From this same passage we learn that lions overpower their prey, devour them for survival, and drink all their blood. Thus Israel’s military was like a lion.

Narrowing down the spectrum, Moses compared the future of Gad’s tribe to a crouching lion, because like a lion, the people would dwell fearlessly and securely. But when their enemies attacked, they would conquer the enemy’s strength and authority, like lions overpowering their prey (MHC, 1961). Relating to Gad personally, the lion symbolism fits well because, like lions that hunt in the choicest hunting ground, Gad chose the best land for his livestock.

Lions and Their Courage

Think of your favorite superheroes. Do they have the courage to face the villains? Of course they do. They are able to save innocent citizens from disaster because of their courage and strength. But before superheroes mainstreamed into popular culture, people looked to lions for examples of courage. Read the following Scripture:

•2 Samuel 17:10

•Proverbs 28:1

To understand the hearts of lions, as referenced to in 2 Samuel 17, consider what commanders need to win a battle. They need men, brave and strong, who will stand for battle. Possessing iron wills, these brave men slay the enemy without a second thought, and they refuse to step down from a fight. Lions also possess this will, this indomitable courage, explaining why they rule over the animal kingdom.

Describing the righteous as possessing the courage of a lion leads to many plausible conclusions about lions. For example, like the righteous trusting in God during perilous times, lions trust in their strength. Both trust in a reliable source, so both have courage (MHC, 1961). Lions also feel secure in their doings, killing to eat and fighting for control, like the righteous feel secure when acting in God’s name. This passage produces a mental image of a lion standing in a road – much like the lion in 1 Kings 13 – willing and able to meet each passing threat.

Lions and the Natural World Order

Predators feeding on smaller animals, livestock grazing in the fields, and men working in the soil all classify as part of the natural world order. And the Bible, describing the natural world order, explains where lions fit into the picture. Read the following Scripture:

•Psalms 104:20-22

•Genesis 1:25

Excluding times when lions attack livestock or men, God’s people admire lions and their ways. Crouching behind bushes, springing upon prey, tearing at flesh and bone with fluid, easy movements – lions characterize the natural and wild world (ESV, 2007). In Genesis 1, God called His creation of wild creatures good, and because He loves them, God feeds the lions to ensure their survival. It’s fitting that people respect them.

Stating an arguable opinion about Psalm 104, MHC (1961) commented on lions creeping under the cover of darkness in fear. Bold and courageous, lions have been seen in daylight several times in the Bible, sometimes doing God’s Will. As rulers of the forest, why would they cower in the daylight? MHC had an answer: men display their authority over all creatures by working during the day, while animals show their submissiveness by creeping about at night. Stated in this light, I can see where lions may creep about in fear.

Links between Biblical Lions and Lewis’s Lions

Strength, courage, and authority were the three major characteristics of C.S. Lewis’s lions. Two of which we found depicted in the biblical lions from the passages above. Passages where lions symbolize authority, and therefore exemplify authority, will be explored next. To revert back to an old question, why did C.S. Lewis make the Lord of Narnia a lion? Further research into this thought will reveal where C.S. Lewis picked up his fascination with lions and why he chose one to represent God.

What did you think? Do the lions in these Bible passages express more than strength and courage? Did C.S. Lewis find inspiration from Bible passages like these?

Chapter 3 – Crowning Lions with Authority

Two velvet-footed lions came bouncing into the open space, their eyes fixed upon each other, and started playing some solemn romp.

- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

“He’s wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”

- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Authority figures often recognized for their power include police officers, CEOs, professors, congressmen, and presidents. But these figures are only the crop’s cream. To fully understand authority amongst men, consider the power of armed criminals, surgeons, nannies, home contractors, and loan officers. Each influences an individual’s psychological, physical, and financial wellbeing, whether for good or bad, giving each a sometimes frightening amount of power.

Looking away from man’s domain, with its asphalt streets and 100-story skyscrapers, we will investigate authority as found in the wild in an effort to understand why biblical authors used great beasts to portray authority amongst men. Can you just hear the lion roar?

Discovering Authority in Lewis’s Lions

Engaged in playful combat, the lions in The Great Divorce displayed an obvious power struggle. One lion pinning the other to the forest floor would have made him the alpha male, the one with authority, even if only in play. Authority is also seen in the influence the lions had over the story’s hero. Knowing their superior strength, the hero skedaddled from the area, so as to prevent his becoming their play object.

Formerly in monarch days, kings wielded great authority. This partially explains why Aslan, who represented the Eternal King, exercised such power over Narnia’s subjects. He was wild, unbridled and fierce. Narnia’s tame lions likely sat down for tea, chatting with old friends and eating crumpets. Aslan spent his time connecting with future leaders and crushing his enemies. He thrived in his authority.

Lions Representing God’s People in Good and Bad Times

Lions portrayed God’s people in both passages below, but one biblical author portrayed an obedient nation while the other portrayed a disobedient nation. This might indicate a variance in opinion between biblical authors concerning the uprightness of a lion’s behavior. Read the following Scripture:

•Genesis 49:9-10

•Zephaniah 3:3

Formidable and menacing, lions rule the forest. Their reign continues even during rest, for the weaker animals remember their strength and hunger and wish to remain unnoticed. In Genesis 49:9-10, the author compared Judah to a resting lion. Different from a roaring lion, a resting lion lays down in peace, feeling confident in his many victories, for all creatures fall prey to his strength. In this state, the lion resists attacking, and he looks out over the land, like a king looks out over his kingdom (MHC, 1961). Backed with kingly symbols in verse 10, lions were used to emphasize Judah’s potential royal status (ESV, 2007).

Israel’s resting lions turned into roaring lions in Zephaniah 3:3. Civil authorities and judges, established to lead the Israelites with integrity and benevolence, actually oppressed the good citizens. Roaring lions are viewed negatively in this passage. Where they once represented strength and courage, they now symbolized great and terrible power. Israel’s leaders were wicked men – these lions who devoured instead of guarded – and the people hated them (ESV, 2007; MHC, 1961).

Gentile Nations, Their Dreaded Power, and Roaring Lions

The passages above fail to produce any strong links between royalty, authority, and lions. To better understand why biblical authors used lions to symbolize authority, look into the relationships between Gentile rulers and roaring lions. More than mere symbolism exists. Read the following Scripture:

•Nahum 2:11-13

•Jeremiah 4:7

Assyrian kings hunted lions, and to continuously relive their experiences, they hired artists to chisel reliefs of their expeditions on their palace walls. These hunting expeditions defined them, showing their ferocity in battle and everyday leadership, and they called themselves lions. Knowing this background, the author appropriately used lions in Nahum 2:11-13 to represent the kings taking plunder after bloody battles, like lions stocking up on torn flesh after a fight (ESV, 2007). The Assyrian princes wanted to be feared, not loved, and the Nineveh King used violence to enrich his rule and his family, like lions catching prey for their cubs and lionesses (MHC, 1961).

To solidify their reputations as fierce and mighty, many ancient nations compared themselves to lions. During Jeremiah’s time, Babylon was known as the topmost destroyer of nations, for no one could flee to safety when the Babylonians decided to attack (ESV, 2007). Initially they attacked other Gentile nations, but due to idolatry, God gave His people over to the Babylonians as well. Babylon’s attacks were so awful, and the other nations grew so weak from terror, that Jeremiah’s authors used hungry lions preying on terrified creatures to symbolize the battles (MHC, 1961).

Lions Submitting to New Authority

Bible scholars differ in opinion on the interpretation of this next passage in Isaiah. However, in looking at these interpretations, we find lions, whether literal or figurative, submitting to a new and higher authority. In other words, we find the wild’s most dangerous authority making way for the new. Read the following Scripture:

•Isaiah 11:6-9

Viewing this passage as the Messiah’s future rule, the wolf, lion, and bear symbolize large enemy nations, such as Assyria and Babylon, while the lamb, calf, and goat symbolize God’s people (ESV, 2007). Under the Messiah’s rule, the Jews and Gentiles live together peaceably, forming friendships with each other. The hot-tempered men are suddenly calmed, living in love with those they formerly persecuted. Knowledge of God ceases all war (MHC, 1961).

Recognizing this passage as a peace prophecy, some Bible scholars view this as a prophecy for Hezekiah, the new ruler during that period. People often predicted peace at a new ruler’s rise in the old Near East, and they were often wrong. Bible scholars who view this passage as a prophecy for Hezekiah believe the prophecy failed (Apologetics, 2007).

Viewed as a literal vision of the Messiah’s future rule, this passage might foretell the restoration of Eden. The Apologetics Study Bible (2007) mentioned Scripture, such as Hosea 2:18 and Leviticus 26:6, where God makes a covenant with the animals in the final days. Predictions of peace amongst men and animals with the original covenant were also mentioned. According to some interpreters, all animals ate straw before the fall. On the new earth, animals, including lions, would return to this, losing their carnivorous nature, so they may dwell together in peace (MHC, 1961; ESV, 2007).

Lewis’s Lions Displaying Strength, Courage, and Authority

Setting out to find if C.S. Lewis had biblical inspiration for the characteristics found in his lions, we succeeded. Strength showed when lions overpowered their prey, courage came when lions trusted in their strength, and authority arose when lions caused their prey to cower in fear. Surely these kingly attributes are what admitted The Great Divorce’s lions into eternity. But next we will explore the passages that influenced C.S. Lewis’s Lord of Narnia, especially the passage where Jesus is called the Lion of Judah.

What did you think? Did C.S. Lewis attribute authority to his lions because of these passages? Were Assyrian kings and princes fierce enough to earn the right to be called lions?

Chapter 4: The Coming of the Conquering Lion

Two velvet-footed lions came bouncing into the open space, their eyes fixed upon each other, and started playing some solemn romp.

- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

“I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”

- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Exploring lion symbolism in the Bible has revealed a running theme about the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The representation started with Judah, continued with his lineage, focused on God, and completed with the Lamb. Surely C.S. Lewis had these passages in mind – and possibly only these passages – when writing about Aslan. To see how the old prophets weaved this theme into their books, and to understand why C.S. Lewis might have used them for his fiction, a few examples have been provided.

Finding God in Lewis’s Lions

A meal, lip-smacking and succulent, and a nap, long and restful, likely preceded the frolic between the lions in The Great Divorce. So, satisfied in mind and body, they naturally turned to each other, reveling in each other’s company. A similar relationship exists between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Fulfilled in His being, each part of the Trinity loves and enjoys the others, as seen in the Son’s prayers to the Father and the Father’s gifts to the Son.

Tea with fauns and battles against evil foes might grab a child’s imagination first, but C.S. Lewis crafted Aslan, the Lord of Narnia, to appeal to children while remaining true to its real-life form. Putting a twist on phrases used to describe God, Lewis made his message clear: Narnia had a God, and he was a lion, the undefeatable Lion. As fitting to the circumstance, Narnia inhabitants paid him homage, claiming his greatness and calling him King.

Meaning behind the Lion’s Roar

Located in the wilderness, a lion’s roar means approaching death. Animals run at the sound, knowing a lion crouches nearby, ready to spring. Like the lion, God speaks for a reason, often to advise repentance before sudden judgment. Read the following Scripture:

•Amos 3:4-8

•Hosea 5:13-14

Called to prophesy, Amos confronted the Israelites as a divinely appointed prosecutor (Apologetics, 2007). The Lord wished for repentance, for the Israelites to turn from their sin. To emphasize the importance of God’s Word, Amos compared his message to a roaring lion. As a lion roars before taking prey, God announces judgment before taking action. Kind and just, God warned the Israelites and asked for corrective action (ESV, 2007). But if they refused to repent, then God would fall on them like a roaring lion falling on its prey (MHC, 1961).

God also gave warning to the Israelites in Hosea 5, telling them to repent of their sins. But they were so immersed in their sin, so comfortable in their unrighteous existence, they refused to repent. Fearing the punishment which their disobedience would bring, they turned to the Assyrians for help. Hosea showed great humor in comparing God to a lion, considering Assyria’s reputation for lion hunting; but Assyria was helpless against God’s fury (ESV, 2007). Disgusted with the people’s sin, and with their refusal to repent, God displayed His full wrath as a roaring lion, hoping to bring Israel back with this judgment after lesser judgments had failed (MHC, 1961).

Babylon’s Swords and the Lion’s Wrath

Enemies pursued Israel without end, fighting battle after battle. Victory or defeat depended on God’s will. If pleased with the Israelites, He destroyed the enemy. To enact judgment on an unrepentant nation, He became a roaring lion and gave victory to the enemy. Read the following Scripture:

•Lamentations 3:10-11

•Jeremiah 25:36-38

Adversity fell on the Israelites when God decreed judgment and discipline, as seen in Lamentations (Apologetics, 2007). The Israelites had sinned against God, rejected the Word, and disregarded the warning to change. Infuriated at their unrepentant attitudes, God became like a lion in hiding, prepared to pounce. He handed them over to the Babylonians (ESV, 2007). Wrecked and desolate, the Israelites learned to fear God, constantly looking over their shoulders to see what calamity He would send next (MHC, 1961).

To describe the Lord as angry would be too mild a description, for God displayed wrath in Jeremiah 25. He was a roaring lion – stalking from His cave, roaring at the disobedient, and desolating everything in His path. Jerusalem and the surrounding nations were without hope against His fierce anger (ESV, 2007). Using Babylon to carry out judgment, but only after taking the honorable and peaceful, God ruined the nations. He destroyed without discrimination, killing all who remained, like a lion devouring an entire flock of sheep (MHC, 1961).

Discovering the Lion’s Love

Some Scripture brings Aslan to mind, front and center. Golden mane, serious eyes, kind words, and kingly demeanor portray God as well as the roaring lion. For God, depicted as a lion, still loves beyond measure and desires for His children to draw near. Read the following Scripture:

•Isaiah 31:4-5

•Hosea 11:8-11

When the Assyrians attacked, God protected Judah. Isaiah described God as a fearless lion, standing before His prey. Shepherds waved their staffs and made noise, but nothing could frighten Him (ESV, 2007). To save Judah, God sent a destroying angel, commissioning him to spread pestilence over the Assyrians – the sword not of man (MHC, 1961). Slaying the Assyrian army like a lion tears sheep apart, the destroying angel represented God’s strength, the Lion’s strength (Apologetics, 2007).

Hosea pleaded with the Israelites to repent, warning them of the greater judgments to come, but to no avail. Unfaithful and arrogant, the Israelites renounced God. Proclaiming God’s love, His affection and compassion, Hosea created a tempting image: the Lion, roaring over the land, was calling for His children to come home. The exiled children had a home. And if they chose to respond, they would leave Assyria and return to the good Lion (ESV, 2007). Returning is a weak term, for the Israelites should flee to God, working out their faith and worshiping Him. Sinners flee from the Lion, knowing His ability to tear them apart, but His children dwell securely in His house (MHC, 1961).

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Crowned with great worth and respect, lions received their highest honor in all the scattered references to God as a lion. These references created a theme, one which reached a satisfactory conclusion in the final book of the Bible. Read the following Scripture:

•Revelations 5:3-5

To an Israelite, lions represent royalty and leadership, because Jacob compared Judah to a lion for these very qualities. Judah and his tribe lived up to this reputation. Throughout the centuries, prophets declared a conquering Lion would come out of Judah, a Lion who would defeat sin and death. Descending from David, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament promise of a conquering Lion (ESV, 2007). With the exclusive ability to open the scroll with seven seals, the Lion of the tribe of Judah can also unveil the document, revealing God’s future plan, and provide His followers with insight (Apologetics, 2007).

Reading the above Scripture brings forward many mental images of Aslan. For example, his roaring when creatures spoke imprudently, his pouncing on the wicked witch, his protection of Edmund, and his sacrifice on the Stone Table seem connected to actual or symbolic events in the Bible. Aslan, called the great Lion, seems connected to Jesus, called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Therefore, to conclude this lengthy study, we will place our bet on C.S. Lewis using these passages, or similar passages, to write about Aslan, and using them as inspiration for other lions found in his works.

What did you think? Know any other Lion-God references which might have inspired C.S. Lewis? Are there any other similarities between Aslan and the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit?

Chapter 5: Viewing Lions in the Dark

Two velvet-footed lions came bouncing into the open space, their eyes fixed upon each other, and started playing some solemn romp.

- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar.

- C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Stepping into the Tsavo wilderness during the nighttime within distance of several hungry lions would likely end in death, even if the unfortunate individuals possessed firearms. During the day, the individuals might see the approaching lions and flee the area. The difference between light and darkness determines their fate, just as symbolic light or darkness determines eternal life or death.

Viewed from a different perspective, lions were also seen as dark creatures in the Bible. To conclude this series on lions, we will explore how biblical authors used lions to represent perverted men, wicked rulers, and the Antichrist, and why C.S. Lewis’s lions inspired terror in other creatures.

Touching on the Darkness in Lewis’s Writing

The hero in The Great Divorce disliked his proximity to the lions, probably because he had read in a book about their predatory instincts. His reaction was very human. Though C.S. Lewis placed these playful predators with the Solid People, possibly to symbolize the relationship between Christ and lions, he remembered the natural tendency for people to associate lions with danger, especially when the predators are free, hungry, and within view.

Lewis warned his readers on the devil’s inability to refrain from lying, which efficiently explained the words passed between Screwtape and Wormwood in The Screwtape Letters. Screwtape followed no values. He belonged to the darkness, where he joined with other devils in their rebellion against God, promoting evils like dissension, jealousy, debauchery, and unjust gain. Lions were absent from this novel, but Lewis knew and wrote about the evil which some biblical authors represented with lions.

Lions with Destructive Tongues and Gnashing Teeth

Vicious and bellicose, the men who pursued righteous men in the Bible refused to recognize God. They lived in darkness, engaging in foolish talk and persecuting God’s people. David thought lions were fitting to represent this lot. Read the following Scripture:

•Psalm 35:15-18

•Psalm 57:4

To adequately understand Psalm 35, consider a jealous schoolmate in elementary school. This schoolmate, learning about a girl’s assignment to help the teacher, might jeer at the girl, calling her “teacher’s pet” or “goody two-shoes.” Pranks might even be pulled on the girl. David had to endure this same mockery, only on a worse scale. Attacked from all sides, he called his persecutors lions. They gloated over his misfortunes, repaying his kindness with evil (ESV, 2007). They were hateful and insolent men who acted unjustly and with malicious intent (MHC, 1961). And David deemed lions to be their best representatives.

Saul and his men, obsessed with finding David, also received the lion title. They pursued David like these ravenous beasts pursue prey. The ESV Study Bible (2007) described the lions as fiery beasts, reminding the reader of the popularly-televised devils with biblically-inspired gnashing teeth. However, when remarking on lions, David was referencing to the men who pursued him, who possessed great power and animosity. These symbolic lions laid traps for righteous men, seeking their destruction (MHC, 1961).

Lions that Rule with Oppression and Fear

Ruling over wild creatures, the lion’s standing in the wilderness makes him well suited to represent rulers amongst men. Lions often represent good rulers in battle, to accurately describe the fury and might, but Solomon and Paul used them to represent wicked rulers. Read the following Scripture:

•Proverbs 28:15-16

•2 Timothy 4:16-17

A good ruler will uphold justice, protect his people, provide for them, and exemplify righteousness. Compared to this standard, many rulers fall short, and some completely ignore what their people want and need. In Proverbs 28:15-16, Solomon used a lion to represent an oppressive ruler. Powerful and destructive, an oppressive ruler treats his people with cruelty and contempt. His rulings are corrupt and wicked (ESV, 2007). Despising justice and mercy, a brutish ruler characterizes a lion that mercilessly tears into a lamb (MHC, 1961).

Commonly used to signify rescue from great danger, the phrase “delivered from a lion’s mouth” in 2 Timothy 4 represented Paul’s deliverance from immediate death. This deliverance enabled him to complete his mission of spreading God’s Word to the Gentiles. The emperor and his men, recognized for their authority, might have prevented Paul from completing God’s mission (MHC, 1961). Their cruel authority established them as lions. But because God remained with Paul and strengthened him, the lions instead heard the message (ESV, 2007).

Lions with Demonic Intention and Desire

Old tales portray Satan as prowling the earth, searching to bring people into sin. He shoves the thorn deeper into the righteous man’s side. Lions also prowl the earth, hunting for prey. Biblical authors noted the similarities between the earthly and supernatural beasts. Read the following Scripture:

•Psalm 91:11-13

•1 Peter 5:8-9

Inflicting misery on the faithful Israelites was the main objective for Satan and his minions – depicted as lions – in Psalms 91. To discourage the Israelites, the dark forces inspired enemy nations to wage war, caused pestilence to spread, and unleashed the wild animals (ESV, 2007). But they fought in vain. God’s will prevailed, despite the troubling and painful events which the Israelites had to endure (Apologetics, 2007). Sending down angels to accomplish His will, God trampled on Satan. The roaring lion was hushed; the slithering serpent, halted; and the red dragon, smothered (MHC, 1961).

Alerted to the devil’s prowling grounds, believers need to remain vigilant for attacks from the Prince of darkness, as admonished Peter in 1 Peter 5. Deception and disaster are the devil’s ways, for he aims to make believers fall from grace. Called a roaring lion, Satan devours souls like a lion devours lives (ESV, 2007). The red dragon, fierce and rabid, seeks to destroy the righteous man’s faith, ensuring no one shares in God’s gifts. Believers should steer away from him like travelers steer away from a lion’s den (MHC, 1961).

Final Thoughts on the Darkness in Lewis’s Writing

C.S. Lewis wrote to engage readers. His tone seemed easy and carefree, but his concepts were deep, and sometimes eerily dark. For example, Screwtape assumed a casual tone when writing to Wormwood about encouraging the man to bicker with his mother, but such behavior would result in foolish talk, hatred, and conflict. Living an atheistic lifestyle for many years before returning to Christ, Lewis knew sin and its consequences. And he incorporated this knowledge into his fictional demons, choosing to free his lions from such darkness.

What did you think? Do lions share more traits with Satan than they do with God? Can lions be a force for darkness as well as a force for good? Did C.S. Lewis ever write about an evil lion?

Thank you for reading. This concludes the study on C.S. Lewis’s lions and their Scriptural foundations. I hope you were entertained and given new thoughts to ponder.

References

Cabal, T., Brand, C.O., Clendenen, E.R., Copan, P., & Moreland, J.P. (Eds.). (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Church, L.F. (Ed.). (1961). Matthew Henry’s Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

The ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version. (2007). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Lewis, C.S. (2001). The Great Divorce. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.

---. (1977). The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York: Collier Books.

---. (1976). The Screwtape Letters. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company.

About the Author

Attending California Baptist University, where I attended chapel and a few theological classes, is the extent of my professional Bible education. While majoring in Christian Studies was a dream, I took life’s practical course and majored in Accounting. I now work in retail – so much for the practical major. So, to increase my knowledge of Christ and His statutes, I study from those who followed their dreams and devoted their lives to learning the Bible.

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Table of Contents

Study’s Purpose

Chapter 1 – Concerning Judgment, Justice, and Lions

Chapter 2 – Lions in All Their Glory

Chapter 3 – Crowning Lions with Authority

Chapter 4 – The Coming of the Conquering Lion

Chapter 5 – Viewing Lions in the Dark

About the Author