Psalm 78 (77):25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Through the Christ in humanity to the Christ in divinity; through the Word that took on human form to the Word that existed with God from the very start; from what humanity has experienced to what celestial beings partake in continuously. For it is said, "The bread of heaven gave them, the bread of angels man ate" (Psalm 77:24-25). Who 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). In what way did humanity partake of the bread of angels? The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). However, dear friends, even as we declare that the angels consumed this bread, do not suppose that they consumed it by physically tearing it apart. To think so would suggest that God, whom the angels partake of, is being fragmented.

He provided them with the bread from heaven. The Lord not only sustained their physical bodies with manna but also enriched their souls with a divine heavenly strength, which He similarly offers to the angels. This is evident in the way the message is articulated, as it is expressed almost as a supplementary thought: He gave them the bread from heaven. Moreover, it is further implied by the Apostle’s words, who noted that they consumed the spiritual bread (1 Cor. 10:3); this is what is now referred to as the bread of angels.

He commanded the clouds above and opened the gates of heaven, and provided them with manna to consume. The clouds generated an extraordinary nourishment; rather than the typical rain that hydrates the planted seeds, they delivered miraculous sustenance. The Prophet referred to the opened gates of heaven as divine provision from above. Just as we normally secure the entrances to our treasure vaults, the prophetic declaration suggests that the Almighty, as if from some heavenly storehouses, dispenses manna. "And the bread of heaven gave it unto them; the bread of angels feeds mankind." This heavenly nourishment is referred to as angelic by the Prophet because it was provided by angels.

He refers to the manna as the bread of angels, not because angels consume it, but because they were involved in its delivery. Christ challenges those who believe this bread to be of divine origin: ‘Amen, amen I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven’ (John 6:32), pointing to what genuinely descends from above. Furthermore, Christ emphasizes that the manna was not angelic nourishment, stating, ‘Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and died. But the bread that comes down from heaven is such that he who eats it shall not die’ (John 6:49-50). He indicates that those who consumed the manna ultimately perished, demonstrating that it was not truly the heavenly bread or angelic sustenance. He then reiterates, ‘I am the living bread,’ and so forth.

To prevent them from believing that God was displeased due to their failure to meet the request put forth by the blasphemers—who did not petition God appropriately—He sent down a fierce fire upon them, leading the place, given the many souls consumed within, to be called ‘The Burning.’ Afterward, He granted them their demand. The prophet refers to the manna as the bread of heaven and the bread of angels, since it was not produced by human efforts, but was sent down from heaven, where angels reside. The nature of the sustenance God provided is revealed 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 things, and thus the anger of God was directed at him. He neglected to marvel at the awe-inspiring works of God and instead pursued the desires of his flesh. However, “the wrath of God is still in their mouths, and the wrath of God is come upon them” (Psalm 77:30-31). Present your requests to God in accordance with His glory so that your worth may be elevated in His sight, and He may delight in you. When someone petitions a king for something as insignificant as filth, not only does it reflect poorly on the petitioner due to the triviality of the demand, revealing great foolishness, but it also disrespects the king himself. Similarly, those who seek worldly blessings in their prayers diminish the holiness of their supplication.

This Psalm attributed to David, rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so that he could convey it to all for their understanding of the countless mercies bestowed by God Almighty upon the ungrateful lineage of the Jews. It serves as both a rebuke for their ingratitude and a lesson for others, encouraging gratitude for the immeasurable humanity of God, especially as manifested through Christ the Lord, who is believed in by His followers. In this psalm, David speaks as if he represents Christ, urging Christian believers to pay attention to the law of the Gospel. The teachings within this psalm apply not only to the Jews but also to the faithful in Christ; the old law serves as a foreshadowing of the new covenant.