Chapter 31 is a sort of supplement, in its theme, to chapter 30; a reminder of the purposes of God to punish the wicked, and to bless those who trust in Him, and a repeated call to seek God and not rely on man when in need.
He does not now say, as in chapter 31, “Woe to the rebellious children,” but “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help”—trusting in horses, and chariots, and horsemen; not looking to God, nor seeking Him. How prone believers are in this day of ours to lean on natural things and not upon God! Thus they lose, though they do it because they think they will gain.
Are we wiser than God’s infallible Word?
God also (not man only, or chiefly) is wise. Indeed, what is man’s wisdom worth, in the path of a believer? “He will bring evil, and will not call back His words.” Men have to recall their words often enough, promising what they cannot perform; not so God. “He will arise against the house of the evil-doers, and against the help of them that work iniquity” (verse 2). I can safely leave all that, and every problem and perplexity, to Him; but do I? To decide without waiting on Him for direction in the things that confront us in life, is sin against Him, self-will.
There is no enjoyment such as is found in the path of simple obedience, subjecting oneself to His will, and learning it day by day in prayer and reading His Word for profit to one’s soul.