Psalm 33 (32):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The psalmody of the Law Indeed, when you reflect on the greatest blessings from God, on the statutes that He has imparted to you, and on the divine wisdom that has nourished your spirit, which descends from the Source of all truth, turn to the Psalms and praise the Lord with the melody of the ten-stringed instrument. The law embodies ten commandments, and within these commandments lies the essence of the psalmody. These commandments originate from God; they are bestowed upon us as a gift of Wisdom, proclaimed from the heavens. Therefore, take up your instrument and live out the law, which the Lord did not intend to abolish but to fulfill. Through love, you will achieve what you could not accomplish through fear.

To begin, we must acknowledge our transgressions to the Lord through psalms, meaning we should conduct our physical actions in a manner that is orderly. Having sinned with our bodies when we dedicated the “lips” of our “servants” to sin “in unrighteousness” (cf. Rom. 6:19), we now confess through our bodies, employing the same means to eradicate sin. If you have spoken ill, bless instead. If you have engaged in immorality, give generously. If you have indulged in frivolity, practice fasting. If pride has overtaken you, practice humility. If you have felt envy, seek consolation. If you have taken a life, endure suffering as a martyr, or labor in your flesh through confession as an equivalent to martyrdom.

In the psalter of ten strings, sing praises to Him. The psalmist refers to the body as ten-stringed because it comprises five senses and five activities of the soul; within each sense, there exists a distinct function of the soul.

All these actions were carried out in accordance with the sacred rites established in the law, which included the use of instruments such as the psaltery, cymbals, timpani, and various other musical tools in worship. The acclamation serves as a triumphant shout that the conquerors use to pursue their vanquished foes. Spiritually speaking, it is appropriate for us to recognize that we can unite ourselves into a harmonious and comprehensive whole, employing both our sensory and intellectual faculties to offer melodies of praise to God.

The tradition of ancient Jewish worship involved praising God with psalteries and various musical instruments, as previously outlined in chapter six of the preface, where we highlighted the distinction between the psalter and other types of instruments. It is crucial to grasp the deeper symbolism of these instruments. The psaltery can be interpreted as representing the physical body. This body is positioned in a way that reaches down to the earth; Basil the Great and Didymus have noted that in the psaltery, the brass produces sound from its lower side, corresponding to how the instrument is played.

Musical instruments are not merely external to us, as one might infer from the study of music; rather, we possess psalteries within our very being, as well as the psalm itself. Furthermore, we become instruments ourselves when we vocalize with these tools, reflecting the nobility of our actions, through the grace bestowed by the Lord.

He encourages the faithful to honor and exalt the Lord, not just through spoken words but also through musical instruments that were cherished by the Hebrew community. In a profound way, He instructs us to worship God not merely through our speech but through our actions, especially by fully adhering to the commandment represented here by the ten-stringed instrument. This is so that others, witnessing our righteous deeds, may glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

This psalm, lacking any inscription in the Hebrew text, suggests a connection to Psalm 31. It serves as an Old Testament reflection on the Lord's words: do not fear, little flock (Lk. 12:32). It likely originated following a miraculous victory achieved by the seemingly small group of God’s people over powerful pagan nations. Given God’s extraordinary aid, the psalmist exhorts the faithful of Israel—the righteous and the just—to raise their voices in joyful, triumphant songs (1 Esdras 3:11) and to sing a fresh and unique melody (vv. 1-3). In His granted victory, the Lord has magnificently demonstrated His love for truth (v. 4, being faithful to His promises), along with His mercy towards Israel and His righteousness in judgment against the Gentiles (v. 5).

The psaltery symbolizes a heart that embodies wisdom in the heights, and those who approach God with a contrite and humble spirit offer prayers to the Lord through the psaltery. Psalms represent the intellect engaged in divine contemplation. The Psalter represents the entirety of humanity. The strings correspond to virtuous actions; the ten strings represent the ten commandments of God or ten spiritual grace: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, compassion, faith, hope, gentleness, and self-control. Through the senses—hearing, taste, smell, touch, sight—the saints are endowed with a sixth spiritual sense, where the gift of discernment surpasses the physical senses. Thus, a saint, through a purified spirit, perceives sight, sound, scent, and touch from afar and within the hearts of others, along with the ability to perform miracles.