Psalm 78 (77):23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is the genuine sustenance of angels, whom the incorruptible Word of God sustains eternally. To enable humanity to partake in this gift, He took on flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:44). The Bread Himself is made available throughout the world via the clouds of the Gospel, while the hearts of those who preach act as heavenly portals, delivering this message not to the complaining and testing synagogue, but to the Church, who believes and places its hope in Him. Furthermore, He can strengthen the fragile faith of those who do not falter but instead believe, through the signs and words spoken by His earthly form, carried through the air like birds—but not those that come from the north, laden with cold and fog, which represent the eloquence pleasing to this world. Instead, He brings forth the South Wind from Heaven—nourishing those with weak faith, helping them grasp heavenly truths by attending to earthly matters.

According to sacred Scripture, the angels assist in executing God’s will; as the divine Apostle affirms: ‘Are not all of them ministering spirits, sent into service for those who desire to inherit salvation’ (Heb. 1:14)? Furthermore, ‘if only the word spoken by angels be known’ (Heb. 2:2), and so forth. The bread of heaven is referred to in this manner as it descended from above; the birds that soar through the skies are likewise called the birds of heaven in Scripture (Gen. 2:10). ‘He sent them food until they were full,’ meaning this provisions continued until they were satisfied. Following this, the Prophet also proclaims the provision of meat.

Why did the Prophet refer to the manna as the bread of angels (Psalms 77:25)? It is because manna is provided through the ministry of angels. The incorporeal beings do not require sustenance, which is why manna is termed the bread of heaven (Psalms 77:24) since it descends from above, not directly from heaven but from the air. Similarly, the birds that inhabit the sky are regarded as heavenly birds.

The bread that came from heaven was provided for them. When mentioning heaven here, it refers to the atmosphere, similar to the phrase "the fowls of heaven," or it could relate to the heavenly nature of the manna, as it appeared to descend from on high.

Consider the angels and archangels, the esteemed courtiers of the King, observing you as you pray. They marvel and celebrate when they witness you, a mortal being, rising above the concerns of the flesh to seek things of the eternal realm; conversely, they feel sorrow when they see someone who has abandoned heavenly pursuits in favor of baseness.

Even if they had been reduced to eating mere weeds in the desert, they should have recognized that as a unique blessing from God. However, when they were instead provided with the finest and most nourishing bread, and in such plentiful supply that everyone was filled, were they not bound to express profound gratitude to God? Therefore, the manna is referred to in Hebrew as the grain of heaven and the bread of the mighty. Though the Apostle Paul, in his correspondence with the Corinthians, attributes a different meaning to manna, considering it a foreshadowing of the body of Christ consumed by believers, the Prophet here highlights the sheer ingratitude of the Israelite people. They did not merely disregard earthly sustenance; they scorned the bread of angels, as mentioned earlier.

The message of this psalm may have originally been directed towards the Jews, but it now pertains to the faithful of Christ: the old covenant serves as a precursor to the new. The Savior calls His people to listen attentively, warning them against suffering a fate similar to that of the earlier Jewish people, who failed to heed God's voice. He urges a close examination of the Gospel's law and a heartfelt listening to prophecy. Although the Jews were powerful, they faltered during the trials of Christ's Passion due to their disbelief. The tribe of Ephraim, in particular, exhibited unfaithfulness to God, having succumbed to the idolatry of the golden calf and leading the other nine tribes astray. As a result of this betrayal, God stripped them of their valor: despite their proficiency in archery, they became fearful and retreated in the face of battle. Consequently, they were taken captive and dispersed among the Gentiles. God showed mercy to the Jews, recognizing that they had completely surrendered to worldly wisdom and were resistant to repentance. Out of His immense compassion, He chose not to wipe them out in the wilderness but instead granted them mercy. The flesh represents humanity, which is susceptible to passions and corruption. The Spirit departs from man and does not return until the second coming.