Psalm 78:25

EXPOSITION

Verse 25. Man did eat angel's food. The delicacies of kings were outdone, for the dainties of angels were supplied. Bread of the mighty ones fell on feeble man. Those who are lower than the angels fared as well. It was not for the priests, or the princes, that the manna fell; but for all the nation, for every man, woman, and child in the camp: and there was sufficient for them all, for he sent them meat to the full. God's banquets are never stinted; he gives the best diet, and plenty of it. Gospel provisions deserve every praise that we can heap upon them; they are free, full, and preeminent; they are of God's preparing, sending, and bestowing. He is well fed whom God feeds; heaven's meat is nourishing and plentiful. If we have ever fed upon Jesus we have tasted better than angel's food; for

"Never did angels taste above

Redeeming grace and dying love."

It will be our wisdom to eat to the full of it, for God has so sent it that we are not straitened in him, but in our own bowels. Happy pilgrims who in the desert have their meat sent from the Lord's own palace above; let them eat abundantly of the celestial banquet, and magnify the all sufficient grace which supplies all their needs, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 24-25. Manna. See Psalms on "Psalms 78:24" for further information.

Verse 25. Man. Rather, as Exodus 16:6 , every man. Not one of them was left without it. A. R. Fausset.

Verse 25. Man did eat angel's food. It is called angel's food, not because the angels do daily feed upon it, but because it was both made and ministered by the ministry of angels, and that phrase sets forth the excellency of it. Christopher Ness (1621-1705), in "The Sacred History and Mystery of the Old Testament."

Verse 25. Angels food. Mann is called the bread of angels because it was brought down by their ministry; and it was so pleasant in taste, that if the angels had eaten bread, it might have served them. John Weemse.

Verse 25. Angel's food. So their manna was called, either,

1. Because it was provided and sent by the ministry of angels; or,
2. Because it seemed to come down from heaven, the dwelling place of the angels; or,
3. To set forth the excellency of this bread, that it was meat, as one would say, fit for angels, if angels needed meat.

And so, indeed, the exceeding glory of Stephen's countenance is set forth by this, that they "saw his face as it had been the face of an angel," Acts 6:15 ; and Paul calls an excellent tongue, "the tongue of angels," 1 Corinthians 13:1 . Arthur Jackson.

Verse 25. The more excellent the benefit is which God giveth, the greater is the ingratitude of him who doth not esteem of it and make use of it as becometh; as we see in Israel's sin, who did not esteem of manna as they should have done. Had the Lord fed them with dust of earth, or roots of grass, or any other mean thing, they should have had no reason to complain: but when he giveth them a new food, created every morning for their sakes, sent down from heaven as fresh furniture every day, of such excellent colour, taste, smell and wholesomeness; what a provocation of God was it, not to be content now; in special, when he gave them abundantly of it? He sent them meat to the full. David Dickson.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 25. Different kinds of food. Beast's food, Luke 15:16 . Sinners' food, Hosea 4:8 . Formalists' food, Hosea 12:1 . Saints' food, Jeremiah 15:16 John 6:53-57 . Angels' food. Christ's food, John 4:34 . C. D.