The Salvation Army Booth College

Psalms: Songs that Nurture the Soul will take you on a journey through Israel’s history and culture, exploring the Psalms served as prayers, songs, and heartfelt cries for God’s help. You will learn how these ancient texts have been woven into Christan worship and shaped the lives of believers throughout the centuries. You will also explore their ongoing relevance in today’s world and how they continue to nurture and inspire faith.  

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.

28 July 2025 - 31 October 2025

There will be a number of regular online classrooms throughout semester (attendance required). We will negotiate a regular day and time that is suitable.

First online classroom in week 1 (commencing 28 July 2025).

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

24 points in BA

Students will complete workbooks which are keyed to readings and a range of other learning materials. They will complete targeted questions, regular learning activities, conduct independent research, and attend structured synchronous online engagement sessions. Assessment strategies are integrated into the learning design of the unit.

Preparation for online classrooms and participation in discussion. Student to student engagement as required. Completion of weekly lesson workbooks and assessment tasks. 

Assessment variant 2, will require the presentation of an online tutorial on a specified subject.

Please see Week 0 in ARK - accessible from 21 July 2025

Need to complete readings and if necessary, review ‘What in the world is exegesis?’  (a step-by-step guide to understand the meaning of a text).  It is very important that you are familiar with this process.

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

1 x 2,250 word Short Answer Responses - 30%

1 x 2,500 word Seminar or Tutorial - 35%

1 x 2,500 word Exegesis - 35%

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

1. Critically 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. Exegete and interpret selected psalms.

4. Evaluate the conribution of the psalms to personal and communal, contemporary Christian life and worship.

5. Assess the connections between the psalms located in the Psalter and psalmc materials employed in both the Old and New Testaments.

To undertake 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  (max of 3 users concurrently)

or purchase paperback available from:

Fishpond

Booktopia

And other book sellers