The Way of Wisdom vs The Way of Folly - Proverbs 1

 Proverbs 1:29-31 (ESV)

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

The major theme of Proverbs is the differences between wisdom and folly.  Wisdom starts with the Fear of the Lord and Solomon begins the entire section with that truth:

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

He then wants the reader to understand that to reject the Fear of the Lord is to go you own way and trust in the knowledge in your own heart.  This is the meaning of the above texts from Solomon.   They “hated” the knowledge of God and they “did not choose” the Fear of the Lord, therefore they will “eat the fruit of their way.”   

The Lord offers wisdom to all who pass her by.  Note:

Proverbs 1:20-21 (ESV)

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

Now, we will later be told the Folly also speaks to the who pass by:

Proverbs 9:13-15 (ESV)

The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

So, here we sit (or “pass by”) and have these two voices calling to us.  Wisdom on the one side and Folly on the other.   Wisdom will equip us to honor God and have a life that is filled with and end with His blessings.  But, as we see above, Folly leaves us to our own devices and without meaning in our lives.   We have the Way of Wisdom vs the Way of Folly before us.  Those who choose the former avoid the latter ... and the subsequent dangers:

Proverbs 1:32-33 (ESV)

For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”