Introduction

Students will introduce themselves to the professor by either recording and submitting a short
video (showing pictures) of themselves or making a PowerPoint with pictures (at least 5 slides
with pictures). The assignment must include the following: Name, hometown, family
information, favorite Psalm and other poetic passage (from anywhere in the Bible) and why, and
at least 3 interesting facts about the student.

Threaded Discussions
Threaded discussions give you the opportunity to interact with a group over important and
sometimes difficult questions. You should respond to the questions each week and then to the
responses of others as we create a dialogue. Be honest and kind and definitely back yourself up
with Scripture. You will see these questions in some form on the exams. Students are required
to participate in each discussion with regularity.

Grading Method: Students will be graded for TDs in the following manner:
1. Students will post a response directly to the Professor’s prompt within 4 days of the
opening of the TD online. This response will be at least 500 words and will use Scripture
and at least 1 professional source to address the problem posed in the TD. (10 pts).
2. In the time between the end of the first 4 days and the closing of the TD, students will
respond to the replies of three classmates with Scripture and logic. Each response will be
at least 200 words & will contain both encouragement and critique. (5 pts each response)

*Please, do not create new threads. Reply only to the prompt and the replies of others.

TD1: Ephesians 5:19-21 reads: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be
filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for
Christ.” Think about how we can “address one another in psalms.” Explain this idea and give
specific examples of how you can do this from the book of Psalms. What are other uses of the
Psalms for Christian life?

TD2: Do some research on the structure and poetry of Lamentations. Describe some of the
characteristics that you find. Also, describe the message of Lamentations. How do you think the
characteristics you found add to the overall message of Lamentations? Why is this book in the
Bible?

TD3: Read Song of Solomon 8:1-7. Explain the strange relational nature of the poem (phrases
about mothers, brothers, daughters, etc.). Also, what does this poem teach us about the bride’s
love for her man? How can we apply these verses today?

Reading Reports

RR1: Longman Answer the following questions with thought and detail. The answers should
come from analysis of the textbook and will be found in the order in which they are asked. When

1
possible give page numbers from the book to support your answers. Numbers 1-11 are worth 4
points each. Number 12 is worth 6 points.
1. What does genre mean and why is it important?
2. Pick one genre of Psalm. Describe it and show how this type of Psalm can be used in our
worship of God.
3. What is TL’s view of the historical Psalms titles? What do you think about this view? Why?
4. How is the book of Psalms a covenant book?
5. How do the Psalms present God as king?
6. Pick a Psalm and complete exercise 18 in writing from page 73.
7. Explain how the Psalms arouse our emotions in a way that other writings may not.
8. What does TL think poetry is?
9. What is parallelism and how does it help us to understand the Psalms?
10. What possible mythological images do the Psalms present? Does understanding this help one
to understand the Psalms? Why or why not?
11. Choose a Psalm that is comparable to Psalm 98, 69, or 30 in style and content. Evaluate it in
a manner similar to TL’s example and meditate up on it. In answering this question, first
confirm that you did this and then describe how God helped you through this study and
mediation.
12. How much of TL and the Book of Psalms did you read completely this semester?

RR2: Ryken Report the percentage of the Ryken textbook that you read completely. (10 pts)
Then, use 2-3 sentences to discuss your answers to each question in the “Reflection and Action”
questions at the end of the book for the Introduction and each chapter. (40 pts)

Exegetical Outlines

EO1: Psalm 72
Instructions: Use only a non-annotated Bible and the resources indicated below for this
assignment. This assignment is worth 25 pts.

1. Study: Read Psalm 72 several times.

2. Title: Think about the main idea of the entire passage and give it an appropriate title.
3. Message: Give a 1-2 sentence summary of the message of Psalm 72.
4. Outline: Make a detailed outline of 72.
5. Questions: Answer the following questions about the passage.
A. Explain your reasoning for your title.
B. Explain your reasoning for the verse division you chose.
C. Look up “Tarshish” in several biblical sources online. Where is this place and
what is the significance of its inclusion here?
D. Look up “blessed” (72:18-19) in several biblical sources online. What does it
mean for humans to bless God and to bless others?
Format: Steps 2-5 in this order: Title, Message, Outline, Question Answers

EO2: Proverbs 31
Instructions: Use only a non-annotated Bible and the resources indicated below for this
assignment. This assignment will be worth 25 points.

2
 1. Study: Read Proverbs 31 several times.
2. Title: Think about the main idea of the entire passage and give it an appropriate title.
3. Message: Give a 1-2 sentence summary of the message of Proverbs 31.
4. Outline: Make a detailed outline of the passage of Proverbs 31.
5. Questions: Answer the following questions about the passage.
A. Explain your reasoning for your title.
B. Explain your reasoning for the verse division you chose.
C. Look at Longman’s commentary on verses 1-9 (see the PDF on the homepage).
How does it explain the comments of verses 4-7 on alcohol? What do you think
these verses mean about the consumption of alcohol? Do they condone giving
alcohol to “those who are perishing” and “the bitter of heart”?
D. What does verse 23 means? How does this apply to marriages today?
E. Do a word study on wife/woman (’ishsha) in the book of Proverbs and answer the
questions below.
Format: Steps 2-5 along with this chart and the answers to the questions below.

Verse Translation Characteristics

2:16
5:18
6:24
6:26 (1)
6:26 (2)
6:29
6:32
7:5
7:10
9:13
11:16
11:22
12:4
14:1
18:22
19:13
19:14
21:9
21:19
25:24
27:15
30:20
31:3
31:10
31:30

Questions:

3
 1. Fill in the chart above by reading the verses given. Write down how your version
translates ishsha (woman, women, wife, adulteress, prostitute, etc.) and characteristics
that are ascribed to each ishsha.
2. Given your findings, explain Proverbs 6:26 and 11:22 with details.
3. Describe the relation between the ishsha of Proverbs 31:3 and 31:10, 30 with details.
4. Given your findings, what is the chief quality of the good ishsha? Explain.
5. Given Proverbs’ uses of ishsha, provide an accurate definition for the good and bad
ishsha.

Poetic Interpretation

PI: Read Lamentations entirely. As you read, take note of passages that express the sorrow of
Israel in especially emotional and poignant ways. Write a paper in which you show how the
poetry of Lamentations expresses the deep grief felt by the author over the destruction of
Jerusalem. Be sure to concentrate on the elements of poetry and how these communicate sorrow,
not just how the content communicates sorrow.

Format
 4-5 pages
 Double Spaced
 12 point Times New Roman Font
 1” margins on each side
 No sources required but you can use them if needed – the focus should be on your
interpretation of the poetry.

*Note: Papers that are extremely poorly written in terms of content, grammar, or punctuation
will be severely penalized.

Suggestions
 Use Subheadings
 Don’t try to be “pretty” and avoid using the same phrases over-and-over. Write like a
normal person who uses good grammar and punctuation.
 Use Subheadings.
 Don’t insert long quotes or the text of verses into your paper unless absolutely necessary.
 Use Subheadings.
 Don’t use 1st or 2nd person.
 Use Subheadings.