Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
All Commentaries on Psalms 81:1 Go To Psalms 81
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
For the wine-presses, torcularibus. It either signifies a musical instrument, or that this psalm was to be sung at the feast of the tabernacles after the gathering in of the vintage, (Calmet) or on the feast of trumpets, on the 1st of Tisri, Leviticus xxiii. 24. (Eusebius) (Pin.) (Calmet) See Psalm viii.
From the grape some good wine is extracted, and the rest is thrown away: so in this psalm we find the just rejoice, while the wicked complain, during the persecutions of the Church. (St. Augustine)
Some Latin copies add, "on the 5th day of the week "and Genebrard supposes that these additions are owing to the Jewish traditions, (Calmet) as they might sing this psalm on Thursday. (Haydock)
We need not attempt to ascribe this piece to any particular time, though some have thought that it regards the captives, the translation of the ark, or the vocation of the Gentiles (Calmet)
It is very beautiful. (Berthier)
