Weekly Assignments for Mon, January 10, 2011 to Tues, January 18, 2011

  Weekly Assignments for Mon, January 10, 2011 to Tues, January 18, 2011

 Below are the reading/studying assignments.  These are followed way down below by the Writing Assignments for the week.  The first, a comment, is due on Thurday, January 13 by nine o'clock.  The second, a paper, is due on Tuesday, January 18 by 9 PM.

For Lecture 4 on “David:  The Varieties of Love”

1.        Read Lecture 4 on “  David:  The Varieties of Love”

2.        Read 1 Samuel (complete); 2 Samuel 5-7, 11-18; 1 Kings 3,5-6,10-11,16:29­

3.        Read in King James Bible Commentary:1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, and 1 Kings, the relevant Introduction, Outline, and Commentary

4.        Gabel, John and Charles Wheeler. The Bible as Literature: An Introduction.         5th edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.  Chapter 4

 Weekly Reading Assignment: Lecture 5:  The Song of Solomon (aka Song of Songs, Canticle of Canticles): Erotic Love andDevotional Poetry

1.         Read Lecture 5 on The Song of Solomon

2.         Bible, King James Version:  Read the Song of Solomon

3.        King James Bible Commentary:  Song of Solomon:  Introduction, Outline, and Commentary
            The Bible as Literature

For Chapter Six:  Psalms: The Poetry of Praise and Supplication

1.  Read Lecture No. 6

 1.  In the Bible, King James Version, read Psalms 1 – 10; Ps. 22, 33, 38, 50, 51, 72, 98, 102, 103, 110, 125, 126,130, 137, 143, 148. 

 2.  In the King James Bible Commentary, Read The Psalms:  Introduction, Outline, and Commentary  on each of the Psalms you are to read.

 3.  In The Bible as Literature, read Chapter 2.

Writing Assignment for Week 2:

1.         By Thursday, January 13, answer the following question in the Comment Box for Lecture 4: 

Question:  David committed what we would consider grievous sins (adultery, complicity in the death of his mistress’ husband).  Why does the Bible mention that David committed these sins?  How did God punish him?  How did God show him forgiveness?  What is the lesson we can learn from this transgression (about 200 – 300 words, please).

2.         By Tuesday, January 18, write a paper about the following topic and send it to me at kerryman2424@gmail.com

In these three lectures (4-6)  we have seen various ways that God shows love for humans.  But we also see that humans are supposed to express love for God.  Show how each of the books you read (Samuel, Song of Solomon, and Psalms) shows the way humans are supposed to demonstrate love for God.  (Note:  When you read commentary on Song of Solomon, almost all commentators mention that this book is metaphorical.  By this, it is meant that the love the lovers in the book express for one another is a metaphor for the way we are supposed to feel about God and God should feel about us.  So, remember, that the physical , mental, and spiritual love in that book is supposed to tell us how to love God in romantic relationships.)  This should be about 750 great words.