The Psalms: Songs for all Times (BA3134B)

Content

The Psalms: Songs for all Times explores the book of Psalms within Israel’s historical, social and cultic environment and the broader Ancient Near East context. We 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. We 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.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Undergraduate level 2 – 18 points from field B Undergraduate level 3 – 36 points from field B Prohibited combination: The Book of Psalms

Pedagogy

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.

Indicative Bibliography

• Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry, Rev ed. New York: Basic Books, 2011.
• Anderson, Bernhard W. Out of the depths: the Psalms speak for us today. 3rd edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
• Brueggemann, Walter. The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Minnesota: Fortress Press, 1995.
• Brueggemann, Walter, and William H. Bellinger. Psalms. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
• Craigie, Peter, and Marvin E. Tate. Psalms 1-50 2nd ed. Waco: Word, 2004.
• Goldingay, John. Psalms (three volumes) Grand Rapids: Baker Academic Press, 2006-2008.
• Jacobson, Rolf A. Soundings in the Theology of the Psalms: Perspectives and Methods in Contemporary Scholarship. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011.
• Kraus, Hans-Joachim. Theology of the Psalms. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.
• Mays, James L. Preaching and Teaching the Psalms. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
• Wenham, Gordon J. Psalms as Torah: reading biblical songs ethically. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012.

Assessment