Unto the end, for the presses: a psalm for David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 12 commentaries
To conclude, O tochilah. The listeners' focus is captured by highlighting the elevated theme of the psalm. This theme emphasizes the magnificence of God's name, particularly as it has been revealed since the coming of the only-begotten Son of God.
The concept of the threshing floor can be interpreted as a metaphor for the Church itself. Similar to how a threshing floor is a place where the valuable grain is separated from the chaff, the Church serves as a setting for the purification of believers, distinguishing the fruitful from the unfruitful. This process is essential for the fruit—symbolizing the faithful—to emerge, develop, and ultimately reach maturity by the time of the harvest.
Thus, just as in a threshing floor the chaff is removed from the grain—and in a winery, the skins detached from the grapes—so too within the Church, it is vital for the mass of worldly individuals, who coexist with the righteous (necessary for their own rebirth and journey as followers of God’s Word), to be distinguished by the actions of God’s servants, motivated by divine love.
It is indeed fitting to refer to the Word of God as 'grapes.' When the Word of God is to be declared, He employs the human voice to reach those who listen. The sound of the voice contains the essence of the Word, much like the outer layer of wine encases its richness. This is how the message is conveyed to the ear, resembling the process of a sharpener; here, a separation occurs that allows the sound to impart its meaning. The essence, once expressed, lingers in the minds of the listeners, akin to how juice collects in a pressing vat, and gradually it assimilates into the discipline of thought and habit—just as wine is moved from the vat into the cellar, where, if maintained with diligence, it matures and becomes more robust over time.
The text of the Psalm offers no specific details on the topic at hand, which suggests that Scripture employs various symbols to convey similar meanings. Thus, we can interpret both the lathe and the threshing floor in relation to the Church, as they serve the purpose of separating the fruit from its outer layers. This process is essential both for the initial growth and for the eventual harvest. With regard to these coverings—straw on the threshing floor and husks in the presses—they represent the worldly individuals mixed among the faithful in the churches. This assembly is necessary for the nurturing and alignment of the faithful with God’s Word, yet it requires the intervention of God's ministers to facilitate their spiritual separation.
Presently, there exists a temporary separation, not based on physical distance but rather on love, despite their physical presence within the same congregations. However, a future time is anticipated when the grain will be stored in barns and the wine in cellars. Indeed, He states that the wheat will be gathered into barns while the chaff will be cast into unquenchable fire (Luke 3:17). A similar metaphor can be drawn regarding the wine, which will be stored in cellars, with the husks discarded to animals, illustrating through analogy the torment of hell.
Another understanding related to furnaces remains consistent with the churches' theme. The Divine Word can also be likened to grapes; in fact, the Lord is referred to as a cluster of grapes—a representation carried by the Israelites from the Promised Land, symbolically reminiscent of crucifixion (Num. 13:23). When the Divine Word employs the sound of His voice to reveal Himself, it is akin to knowledge encased in husks, resembling wine. This knowledge is heard like grapes falling into the presses, where a separation occurs, allowing the sound to reach the ears while the understanding must be retained in the minds of the listeners, much like a liquid in a vat that transitions into the cellar. If this knowledge is not spoiled by negligence, it can mature and strengthen over time. The knowledge turned sour among the Jews, who offered the Lord vinegar to drink (John 19:29). In contrast, the wine that the Lord will share with His saints in the Father's kingdom, from the fruits of the New Covenant, will be rich and delightful (Matthew 26:29).
Furthermore, “tochilas” are often associated with martyrdom, as believers in Christ, when subjected to persecution, leave their earthly remains behind like husks, while their souls ascend to the tranquility of paradise. This interpretation still honors the Church's fruitfulness. It is sung in the context of the establishment of the Church, particularly after our Lord’s resurrection when He ascended into heaven. He then sent the Holy Spirit, empowering the disciples to boldly proclaim the Word of God, leading to the gathering of the Churches.
The inscriptions can be understood similarly: a winepress serves as a tool for producing wine, extracting it from the grapes that are pressed within. However, if the wine derives from spoiled or immature grapes, it quickly deteriorates, becoming unpalatable and emitting a foul odor or resembling vinegar, possibly transforming into something that invites decay, like worms. Conversely, when high-quality, ripe grapes enter the winepress, they yield a sweet and aromatic wine, whose richness and fragrance will only grow over time. Hence, what lesson does this imagery of the grape cluster inspire us to reflect upon? It reminds us to cultivate our treasury of knowledge, which is hope, containing all that we need for our existence.
We recognize the value of the clusters by first observing the branches and then the vine, which supports both clusters and branches. This aligns with the words of our Lord, who declared, “I am the vine, and you are the fruit” (John 15:5). If we remain fruitful and develop, as the Apostle reminds us to be “rooted in Him” (Col. 2:7), we understand that from our creation in Him and without Him, we lose the nourishment we require. A harvest of good deeds is expected from us—deeds that are not soured by anger nor spoiled by excessive sweetness. In the soul's winepress, with conscience as our winepress, our deeds generate wine for the afterlife, and each individual must experience the results of their own efforts, whatever they may entail. Blessed are those whose labor produces wine that brings joy to the heart; in contrast, wretched and deserving of tears are those whose “wine,” as Moses described, turns into “the fury of serpents” (Deuteronomy 32:33), transforming into a toxic essence that yields destruction from Sodom’s rod. Therefore, let this day remind us, as the Prophet advises, to focus on virtues; for the “sharpeners” in the parable will draw from you sweet wine (Proverbs 3:10).
The phrase "in the end" refers to the fulfillment of the prophecy found in the psalm at the culmination of the ages. This psalm speaks of Christ and the Churches following the Incarnation, for the Only-begotten is referred to as the vine, while the faithful are described as the offspring. However, if the Jew attempts to argue that the psalm refers to humanity in general, it should be acknowledged that all things are subjected to humanity because the one who became human was created in the likeness of God. Initially, there was a singular altar within the temple, but with the calling of the Gentiles, numerous altars emerged, representing the Churches that gather the fruits of those who excel in piety.
It is important to understand that in every psalm where the Seventy translated the phrase ‘to the end,’ Aquila and Theodotion rendered it as ‘to the victorious,’ while Symmachus used ‘victorious’ as well. This psalm is likewise presented as a triumphant hymn to the Victorious God, who has defeated ‘the adversary and the local’ of the devil, ultimately freeing humanity from his affliction. The Prophet refers to the congregations as ‘churches’ because the Lord is similarly referred to as the vine. He declared in the Holy Gospel: ‘I am the true vine’ (John 15:1). From this vine, believers gather the clusters to create the sacramental wine. However, this stands as a grave indictment against the disbelief of the Jews.
Despite hearing of the many winepresses and knowing they were given but one—indeed, not a winepress, but rather a threshing floor (as it is stated: ‘The threshing floor was found in Him, and I waited for Him to make the cluster, and He made thorns’ - Isaiah 5:2)—they refuse to acknowledge that the old covenant has ended, while the grace of the New Covenant has manifested, calling for the salvation of all. Consequently, it is not in accordance with the old law or upon a single altar that the priests offer up the fruits of men to the fire; instead, altars more numerous than any count have been established throughout the earth and the seas. This idea is made even clearer in the eighty-third Psalm, which, bearing the title ‘of the tochilahs,’ references many altars. It states: ‘Thy villages are beloved, O Lord of Hosts. My soul longeth and passeth away into the courts of the Lord’ (Psalms 83:2-3), and succinctly declares, ‘Thy altars, O Lord of Hosts’ (Psalms 83:4). This psalm, labeled ‘of the tochilahs,’ prophesies the salvation of creation, demonstrates God's care for humanity, and foretells the Incarnation of the Only Begotten.
The phrase "to the end" has been previously clarified in our discussions. In this context, the prophet refers to God's sanctuaries, which are dispersed throughout creation, as "sharpened vines." The Lord Jesus Christ identifies Himself as the vine in the Gospel (John 15:5), with His apostles representing the branches of this vine. The Christian faith acts as this vine, which, when pressed within the churches—much like grapes in a vineyard—produces the wine of Christian doctrine that refreshes the hearts of believers. The prophet composed this psalm in representation of these spiritual hearths, specifically the churches of the Christian faith.
In ancient times during the Old Testament, there was only one temple devoted to the true God, located in Jerusalem; to a singular nation was granted the inheritance mentioned by the prophet Isaiah: "And I will make a pillar, and found a threshing-floor in it" (Isaiah 5:2). Here, "pillar" signifies the temple of Jerusalem, while "threshold" alludes to the sacrificial altar within that temple. However, at the culmination of time and divine worship, this temple was destroyed, and in its stead, countless churches of Christ arose around the globe as all nations regained the authentic knowledge of God that they had never entirely forfeited.
The term 'vineyard' illustrates the essence of life. Those who cultivate such a vineyard yield clusters and harvests of truth by gathering them at the right moment and delivering them to the winepress. The wine produced from these gathered fruits brings joy to the heart of humanity. This process gives rise to both a practical and a contemplative existence, where the fruits of understanding sacred truths are produced alongside commendable actions. However, there is not a singular method for producing fruit; instead, various virtues serve as different instruments for cultivation. Those who choose to remain single cultivate their fruit in the crucible of self-discipline, while those who honor their marital vows produce their fruit in another manner. Numerous ways exist for cultivators to channel the produce of practical virtues, but far more avenues are available from the vineyards of contemplative life, which yield the fruit of doctrine and the inquiry of divine truth.
To conclude, a psalm authored by David, designated for the chief musician utilizing the instrument known as tatififif. The essence of this text is to extol the grandeur, wisdom, and benevolence of God, with a particular emphasis on humanity.
The eighth psalm is among the most exquisite hymns composed by David. The term gittith, derived from LXX Hebrew, refers to the melodies played during the grape harvest (Judg. 9:27, Is. 16:8-10, Jer. 48:33). The current Hebrew interpretation al gagittit is frequently translated as pertaining to the Geth (Philistine), signifying a specific musical tone or style; it can also refer to the instrument used in this context. Its fundamental essence can be viewed as a song exalting the magnificence of God, revealed in the dignity of humanity.
The seer composed this hymn for the faithful who partake in the profound truths of Christian teachings drawn from the divine forges, the Churches of Christ. David foresees the redemption of humankind through the only-begotten Son of God, marveling at His unfathomable wisdom, His indescribable humanity, and His extraordinary and unparalleled compassion for fallen humanity.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS