The Salvation Army Booth College

The Psalms: Songs for all Times will help you to explore the book of Psalms within Israel's historical, social and cultic environment and the broader Ancient Near East context. You will study how the psalms provided the people of Israel with prayers, songs, and cries for God's intervention, and the ways they have been woven into the fabric of Christian worship. You will explore the theological contribution of the Psalms and how they have informed and shaped the lives of people of faith across the centuries and continue to do so in our contemporary world, even beyond the bounds of the Church in popular culture.

The unit code contains information on the level of study, field, discipline, unit and college. Click here to learn what the unit code for this unit represents.

27 February 2023 - 2 June 2023

There will be four Virtual Classrooms (online). Attendance is required.

We will negotiate a day and time that is suitable, but they will be scheduled during the following weeks in the semester:

• Week 1 (commencing 27 February)
• Week 4 (commencing 20 March)
• Week 7 (commencing 24 April)
• Week 10 (commencing 15 May)

(in which will address preparation for assessments, discuss issues arising from learning materials).

We recommend that you allocate 12 hours a week for all study activities.

The learning in this unit will be scaffolded by learning materials produced by the lecturer, together with readings. Learning activities may include: exegetical exercises to practice and develop skills, regular learning tasks, engagement through online forums, virtual classroom sessions and student collaboration.

Participationi activities include preparation for virtual classrooms and participation in discussion. Student to student engagement as required.

*This unit is offered at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Students may engage with people across both levels when this unit is delivered.

1 x 2,000 word Exegesis - 25%

1 x 2,000 word Essay creative work based upon exegesis (written word based) - 25%

1 x 3,500 word Essay - 50%

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Analyse the literary features of the psalms including their poetic form and type.

2. Interpret the psalms within the historical and socio-cultural context of ancient Israel and other ANE settings.

3. Prepare an exegesis on selected psalms.

4. Assess the connections between the psalms located in the Psalter and psalms in other Old Testament materials.

5. Illustrate the contribution of the psalms to personal and communal, contemporary Christian life.

6. Critically evaluate and communicate the contribution of the Psalter to Christian theology and worship.

To participate in this unit, you are required to have access to the following book:

Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the depths: the Psalms speak for us today. 3rd edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000

Available as an eBook via the UD Library Hub

https://divinity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=41173&site=eds-live

Paperback available from:

Booktopia

Angus & Robertson

Fishpond

and other book sellers