Content

A study of the Psalms in the life and worship of Israel, with particular attention given to the literary types of psalms and the shaping of the Psalter. Introduction to Hebrew poetry and detailed exegetical study of selected psalms. Exploration of the psalms in personal and communal spiritual practice will include: psalms in the use of ritual in pastoral care (individual and corporate); psalms as a reflective and creative resource in forming responses to life’s challenges and celebrations.

Unit code: BA9004S

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Stirling College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Describe the different literary genres in the Psalms

2.

Articulate how liturgy is shaped by interaction with historical context

3.

Evaluate a variety of theological, liturgical and pastoral approaches to studying the Psalms

4.

Pastorally engage a specific topic relating to Psalms in a critically rigorous, sustained, and practice-integrated manner

5.

Create and illustrate a personal theology of the Psalms for use in current church and communal discourse.

Unit sequence

BA8001S Introducing the Hebrew Bible or equivalent

Pedagogy

Lecture/discussion/group work

Indicative Bibliography

  • Alter, R. The Art of Biblical Poetry. New York: Basic, 1985.
  • Alter, R. The Book of Psalms. New York/London: W.W. Norton & Co, 2007.
  • Anderson, B.W. Out of the Depths. 3rd ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
  • Broyles, C.C. Psalms. NIV Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999.
  • Craigie, P.C. Psalms 1-50. Waco, TX: Word, 1983.
  • Craven, T. The Book of Psalms. Message of Biblical Spirituality 6; Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992.
  • Goldingay, J. Psalms. 3 Vols; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006, 2008.
  • Jacobson, R. A. (ed.) Soundings in the Theology of the Psalms: perspectives and methods in contemporary scholarship. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011.
  • Mays, J. The Lord Reigns. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1994.
  • Mays, J. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2006.
  • Reid, S.B. (ed.) Psalms and Practice: worship, virtue and authority. Collegeville MI: Liturgical Press, 2001.
  • Waltke, Bruce, Houston, James and Moore, Erica. The Psalms as Christian Lament: A Historical Commentary, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2014

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

3.000 word essay

0 50.0
Case Study

3,000 word case study

0 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 31 Dec, 2016

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-04 13:33:52 +1100