Psalm 78 (77):24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Through the Christ-Man to the Christ-God; from the Word made flesh to the Word that existed with God from the very start; from the experience of humanity to what the angels partake in daily. It is declared, "The bread of heaven gave them, the bread of angels man ate" (Psalm 77:24-25). Who then is this bread of angels? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). How did man consume the bread of angels? The Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1:14).

He provided them with the bread from heaven. The Lord did not merely sustain their physical needs with manna; He also fed their spirits with divine wisdom, which He similarly bestows upon the angels. This is evident in the seamless flow of the message, as it is expressed as an additional thought: He gave them the bread from heaven. This understanding is further reinforced by the Apostle’s assertion that they consumed spiritual bread (1 Cor. 10:3), which is what is now referred to as the bread of angels.

He commanded the clouds from the heights and opened the gates of heaven, providing them with manna to eat. The clouds produced an extraordinary generation, yielding miraculous sustenance instead of the usual rain that nourishes the seeds sown in the soil. The Prophet referred to these open heavens as divine gifts from above. In our practice, we often secure the treasures away, opening them only to withdraw something; similarly, the prophetic declaration illustrates that the Almighty bestows manna as if from celestial storerooms. "And the bread of heaven gave it unto them," "The bread of angels satisfied mankind." This sustenance is termed angelic by the Prophet because it was delivered by angels.

He provided them with sustenance in the form of manna and bestowed upon them the bread from heaven. Humanity consumed what is known as the bread of angels, which was sent until they were satisfied. Manna is referred to as 'the bread of heaven' because it descended from the skies. The term 'bread of angels' used for manna signifies its divine origin; it wasn’t that angels, as spiritual beings, required it, but rather that it was delivered by them (as noted by Blessed Theodoret), serving as the closest agents of God's intent. Thus, the designation of angelic highlights the miraculous source of the manna.

To prevent the belief that God was displeased due to their failure to meet the demand made by the blasphemers, who did not appropriately petition Him, He sent upon them a fierce fire. This led to the naming of the place ‘The Burning’ due to the multitude who suffered within it. Subsequently, He granted them what they had requested. The prophet refers to manna as the bread of heaven and the bread of angels, as it was not produced by human effort but was sent down from heaven, where the presence of angels dwells. The nature of the nourishment that God provided is made evident in the scripture: "He raised a south wind from heaven, and brought a south-west wind by His power, and spread upon them like dust the flesh, and like the sand of the sea the birds of prey."

Israel sought trivial matters, and as a result, the anger of the Lord descended upon him. He chose to ignore the awe-inspiring wonders of God’s works and sought to satisfy his earthly desires. Yet, "the wrath of God is still in their mouths, and the wrath of God has come upon them” (Psalm 77:30-31). Present your requests to God in accordance with His glory, that your honor may be elevated in His sight, and that He may take delight in you. When someone approaches a king with a petty request, not only does he degrade himself through the insignificance of his request, demonstrating profound foolishness, but he also offends the king. Similarly, those who beseech God for worldly possessions in their prayers act inappropriately.

This Psalm attributed to David, imbued with prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the choir, so he could convey it for the enlightenment of all regarding the countless blessings granted by God Almighty to the ungrateful lineage of the Jews, admonishing them for their ingratitude, and teaching others to appreciate the remarkable humanity of God, especially as manifested through Christ the Lord, who believes in His name. In this psalm, the prophet David speaks as if representing Christ to the believers, urging them to observe the teachings of the Gospel. The message of this psalm historically pertains to the Jews, yet it now resonates with the faithful in Christ: the old covenant prefigures the new.