In | An Invitation to the Table, Part 1

While we may be tempted to view Proverbs as a list of impersonal sayings, Dr. Samuel Terrien draws our attention to the relational aspect of this book. He notes that it offers “access to (God’s) presence through the love of wisdom.”

(Readers) are enjoined to seek Wisdom and “to acquire” her, only because Wisdom herself waits for them and invites them to come toward her (Prov 2:4, 3:13, etc.) …. Whoever finds Wisdom finds life, but life is interpreted in the context of Israel’s faith.

Proverbs offers more than abstract ideas or maxims. It invites us into God’s presence and promotes relationship with Him. The imagery used of “Lady Wisdom” makes it clear that this encounter with God was offered to all, not just one course of ruling elites. Wisdom doesn’t greet people in the Holy of Holies, but out in public and domestic places (NOTE: “sapiential” is an adjective used to associate something with wisdom):

The invitation of Wisdom is extended to all men, not just to a privileged course of court officials or intellectuals …. (The) sapiential circles did not recoil from picturesque Wisdom waiting at street corners and on hilltops (Prov 8:2, etc.). As the sublime counterpart of the prostitutes in the mystery cults of the ancient Semitic world, Wisdom attempted to allure all those who passed by. Her call was addressed to the whole of humanity. 

Source: Samuel Terrien, The Elusive Presence, 1978, pp. 358-359.