Psalm 78 (77):28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For He who opened the gates of Heaven and provided manna as sustenance for the unfaithful possesses the authority to grant believers the true Bread from Heaven, represented by that manna—the genuine nourishment of angels, which the incorruptible Word sustains. To enable humanity to partake in this divine sustenance, He took on flesh and dwelt among us. The Bread Himself is distributed globally through the messages of the Gospel, preached by the hearts of ministers, who act as portals that open not to a complaining and tempting synagogue, but to the faithful Church that believes and trusts in Him. He is also capable of strengthening the fragile faith of those who do not waver but believe, using the signs and words conveyed through human speech as if they were carried by birds—not those from the north, symbolizing eloquence that, while pleasing to this world, offers only coldness and mist. Instead, He brings the warm, life-giving South Wind from Heaven, so that those who are weak in faith may receive nourishment to embrace heavenly truths by listening to earthly messages.

This count refers to those ready for battle, aged twenty and up, excluding younger ones, women, and the tribe of Levi.

In the center of the encampment and around the tents, God provided manna, ensuring it was easy to gather. The term "camp" refers to the entire gathering of people in the wilderness, while "dwellings" signifies each individual's tent. The phrase "Their desire brought them" indicates that they received from God all they craved, fulfilling their wishes. This illustrates how God provided what they longed for, much like the Apostle Paul, who equates hope with the fulfillment of desire, saying, "Hope shall not be ashamed."

Yet, the anger of God descended upon them, resulting in the death of many, even among the chosen of Israel. When they beheld the quails, their faith in God's promise— that by month’s end they would be filled with these birds—waned, and they feared the quails would escape or spoil. Thus, they "dried them for themselves round about the camp," and while the meat was still in their mouths, the wrath of the Lord was kindled, leading to a great pestilence among the people (Num. 11:33). They had barely consumed the meat before they faltered in their belief and forgot God’s might. Consequently, their cravings were transformed into affliction, manifesting divine power and Providence. Their insatiability led this sustenance to become a source of calamity, resulting in many deaths.

The term "the greatest of them" is translated by Simmachus as "fat" and by Aquila as "rich," suggesting that those who gathered the most were among the stoutest or wealthiest. It seems likely that Aquila and Simmachus arrived at this translation based on the context of later phrases in the text. The interpreters used "most numerous" not to compare the deceased with the living but to denote that many fell victim to the plague. This aligns with Moses's assertion that "The Lord smote the people with a very great plague." The phrase "great plague" connotes the demise of many, and he referred to them as "chosen" because they were valiant in warfare. Those counted among them were all capable of battle, and for this reason, they were also deemed selected.

Observe the angels and archangels, those esteemed servants of the King, as they watch you in prayer, considering what kind of request you make of their Lord. They are filled with awe and delight when they witness you, a mortal, transcending your earthly nature to seek divine treasures; conversely, they feel sorrow when they see someone who has turned away from the heavenly to plead for trivial, earthly matters.

However, it is clear that while God operated through the winds in accordance with the placement of the camps, He was capable of utilizing other means to bring the birds to them.

When He stated, “I will eat, and they will be satiated,” it was not merely to indicate that He sent a vast number of birds for their consumption, filling them beyond measure, but to highlight that their request for meat stemmed from mere impulse, rather than genuine hunger. As He had previously said of the manna that it was given in abundance, so here He mentions that they were satisfied with meat, emphasizing the gluttony of the Israelites, which reflected their uncontrolled desires. While the Lord often assures the faithful that He will grant their requests, here He allowed the corrupt desires of this unclean group to be met out of His displeasure rather than benevolence. This is made clear when He adds that such gluttony led to their ruin, for as they feasted, they simultaneously consumed the fire of God’s wrath: even as the food lingered in their mouths, divine anger fell upon them, leading to the destruction of their strongest among them.

Despite the widespread fury of God among all the tribes, the Prophet specifically mentions only the robust and favored individuals, intending to highlight God’s justice. Young men, confident in their strength, often confront God without reverence, mistakenly believing they can act with impunity. Thus, it is no wonder that God’s wrath was especially severe against them. The sight of the chosen and the mighty falling was a terrifying spectacle; yet, the Israelites remained unmoved by this humiliation, illustrating their hardened hearts.

The Saviour calls His people to listen carefully, warning them against falling into the same contemptuousness as the earlier Jewish population who disobeyed God. He encourages a thorough examination of the Gospel and a heartfelt engagement with prophecy. Though the Jews possessed strength, they faltered during the trial of Christ's Passion because of their lack of faith. Notably, the tribe of Ephraim was particularly unfaithful, succumbing to the idolatry of the golden calf and dragging the other tribes along with them. As a result of this betrayal, God stripped them of their bravery; despite their skill in archery, they succumbed to fear and retreated in battle. They were ultimately taken captive and dispersed among the nations. Yet, God showed mercy to the Jews, recognizing their complete surrender to worldly wisdom and their refusal to repent. According to His immense compassion, rather than annihilating all of them in the wilderness, He spared and had pity on them. Humanity is embodied in flesh, which is susceptible to passions and decay. The Spirit, having departed from humanity, will not return until the Second Coming.