He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.
Read Chapter 36
Gregory The Dialogist
AD 604
64. The poor is delivered from his straitness, when any humble person is set free from this affliction of his pilgrimage. For he is here oppressed with even continual tribulations, in order that he may be excited to seek for the joy of real consolation. Whence it follows also,
And will open his ear in tribulation.
To open the ear in tribulation, is to open the hearing of the heart, by the affliction of blows. For when we despise commands, we are treated with a merciful severity, in order that we may fear the rod. Tribulation then opens the ear of the heart, which this world’s prosperity often closes. For it is said by Solomon, The turning away of the little ones shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [Prov. 1, 32]
“They will die in the tempest of their soul, and their life among the effeminate.” Since he had said above, “God will not be humble before the powerful,” here he has rightly said that the one who through his scorn inflames the wrath of the avenger will die among the effeminate, that is, he deserves to be deprived of all his strength by the misfortunes that will happen to him. “He will take the poor away from his anguish and will reveal his ear in tribulation.” Through the voices of the facts themselves he will teach them that he has not forgotten the cry of the poor. - "Exposition on the Book of Job 36.14–15"
