Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

He openeth also their ear - He gives them to understand the reason why they are thus corrected, and commands them to return from those iniquities which have induced him to visit them with afflictions and distresses.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

He openeth also their ear to discipline - To teaching; or he makes them willing to learn the lessons which their afflictions are designed to teach; coral). See the notes at Job 33:16.

The Biblical Illustrator

Job 36:10

He openeth their ear to discipline.

Discipline

1. Notice the discipline which God uses in His family. Many of us are froward children and need discipline. Job needed it, and had it; we are not told why, except that God meant to try his graces, and bring them into exercise. Paul was disciplined, and if he had not been well-disciplined, he would never have been such a scholar. The first feature in God’s discipline for His family is what Paul calls, “apprehending them.” A laying fast hold of conscience. Has Jesus apprehended you? This apprehending is sometimes very severe discipline. The next feature of discipline is translation. He translates the poor sinner out of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. There shall be transformation as well as translation. The discipline which our God exercises in His Church is for the express purpose of exercising all the graces that He imparts to the soul. By discipline Jehovah nourishes His own life in the souls of His children. By this discipline, decision of character is effected.

2. The obedience to be effected. “He openeth their ears to discipline.” Jehovah opens the ears of His people to discipline in such wise as that they shall oven wait and listen for more discipline--more of the exercise of Divine wisdom and power, to carry out His wise purposes and designs. The teaching of Jehovah goes on thus blessedly in the experience of His people: for it is written, “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace.” (Joseph Irons.)

The advantages of affliction

It is assumed in the text that the righteous may experience painful changes, severe afflictions--great calamities may overtake them. Some of the advantages of these afflictions we consider.

1. Afflictions tend to promote self-knowledge by leading to serious and faithful self-examination.

2. Afflictions tend to soften and humble the mind, and dispose us to confess, to bewail, and to forsake our transgressions.

3. Afflictions tend to promote our instruction in righteousness.

4. Afflictions tend to promote our entire sanctification, and, if patiently endured, will issue in everlasting glory. But afflictions are not necessarily salutary. Sometimes they are not improved; and when they are not improved, instead of being a blessing they are indeed a curse. (Robert Alder.)

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

He openeth also their ear to discipline,.... Or "to correction"^F15למוסר "ad correptionem", Montanus; "ad correctionem", Beza, Michaelis, Schultens. ; to the rod of correction; to hear the voice of it and him that has appointed it; its reproving voice for sin, its directing voice to duty, and its commanding voice to return from iniquity, as in the next clause. Or "to instruction"^F16"Ad eruditionem", Cocceius. ; God's corrections of his people being instructions to them, whereby they learn more of their duty, and of the rich experiences of grace; their faith, hope, love, and patience, are tried and increased hereby; and more of the love of God, of his care and faithfulness, of his covenant, of his gracious presence, and communion with God, what it is; and even of the doctrines of the everlasting Gospel: sometimes more is learned by an affliction than by a sermon. Now in order to hearken hereunto, to the voice of God in an affliction, the ear must be opened; which is first done in conversion by the mighty power of God: but sometimes good men fall asleep, and are inattentive to divine things; and this is one way God takes to awaken them, to arouse their attention; he speaks to them out of a whirlwind; he sends some terrible startling affliction, which fetches them out of their slumber, and so their ears are opened to hear what he says in it: at the noise of his waterspouts, and his billows one after another rolling over them, they are awakened to a sense of their sin and duty, Psalm 42:7;

and commandeth that they return from iniquity; repent of their sin, turn from it and forsake it: such a strong voice has an affliction in it, when sanctified and attended with the spirit and power of God; then it effectually teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, as the word of God, the Gospel of the grace of God does, when accompanied with the same; as there is a commanding voice in the one, so there is in the other; and happy it is when such ends as these are answered by afflictions.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

(Job 33:16-18, Job 33:23).

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Openeth — He inclines them to hearken to what God speaks by the rod.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Job 36:10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Ver. 10. He openeth also their ear to discipline] See on Job 33:16.

And commandeth that they return from iniquity] Unless they will have it to be their ruin; whereof obstinate sinners, who refuse to return, seem to be ambitious. Affliction sanctified is Lex practica, a practical law, saith one; it is Verus Scripturae commentarius, an excellent comment upon the Scripture, saith another. David could not learn God’s statutes till taught by this free schoolmaster; cursed enough and crabbed, but such as whereby God openeth men’s ears to discipline, and speaketh to them to return from iniquity, which is a piece of learning that people cannot pay too dearly for.

Sermon Bible Commentary

Job 36:10

Discipline is the art or system of learning generally any little things. It is very much the same as instruction or education. But because teaching or education is often a very hard thing, and accompanied with severity, discipline has come to be taken in a severe sense, for we generally associate it with pain and hardship. This discipline or training is among the things which God promises to the righteous. Consider the discipline of joy.

I. The beauty of nature is one of the truest joys of life; and it will give a grandeur and a holy and happy solemnity to our delight in a lovely prospect and our enjoyment of a river, or a sea, or a mountain, or a garden, or a flower if we recognise that delight as preparatory to our possession of Paradise and our right habit and use of a fairer and lovelier world.

II. We may take the same view of society. Perhaps the greatest end for which society is given us is that by the social graces we may learn the social glories. Our social meetings are the rehearsals and the beginnings of the amenities and the comforts of the saints.

III. Look at the discipline of joy in your own experience. Have you never found that it was the affliction that hardened you, but that it was the joy that softened you? Did you never walk proudly through a trial to be humbled by a mercy? And is not that joy discipline? You will be a wiser and happier man when you have learnt to let your joys be your schoolmasters for Christ and heaven.

J. Vaughan, Sermons, 14th series, p. 21.

References: Job 36:10.—J. Vaughan, Sermons, 14th series, p. 29. Job 36:26.—Parker, Fountain, April 29th, 1880. Job 36-37—S. Cox, Expositor, 1st series, vol. xi., p. 264; Ibid., Commentary on Job, p. 463. Job 37:6.—H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxvii., p. 6. Job 37:14.—Homiletic Magazine, vol. xiv., p. 221.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

i.e. He enableth and inclineth them to hearken to what God speaks by the rod, who would not hear in the time of their prosperity; like them Jeremiah 22:21.

To discipline; or, to instruction, i.e. to receive instruction; or, to chastening, i.e. to hear the rod, and who hath appointed it, as is said, Micah 6:9.

Commandeth, either by his word or Spirit accompanying the affliction, and discovering the mind and will of God in this dispensation.

That they return from iniquity, which is the chief cause of their calamity.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10.Openeth’ ear — As in Job 33:16. Iniquity — Vanity, . Its root idea is to be “empty,” “worthless.” See note on Job 5:12, and Job 21:19. Elihu, with profound insight, more like that of the New Testament, (1 John 2:15-17,) penetrates to the root of Job’s trouble, and finds it to be the incipient love of an “empty” world, (worldliness,) — the first side-steppings of a soul that otherwise retains its faith in God.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Ear, by secret inspirations, or by the admonition of pastors. (Calmet) --- Afflictions will also speak louder to them than any orator. (Haydock)

Mark Dunagan Commentary on the Bible

Suffering and pain also have the ability to open a person"s ears to instruction and getting back on the right path. "By hardships God can get a man"s attention and bring him out of sin" (p. 73). Compare with 33:16.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

iniquity. Hebrew. "aven. App-44. Not the same word as Job 36:23.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

openeth

15; 33:16-23; Psalms 40:6; Isaiah 48:8,17; 50:5; Acts 16:14

commandeth

Proverbs 1:22,23; 8:4,5; 9:4-6; Isaiah 1:16-20; 55:6,7; Jeremiah 4:3,4; 7:3-7; Ezekiel 18:30,31; Hosea 14:1; Matthew 3:8; Acts 3:19; 17:30; James 4:8