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.