Proverbs 9:1–6 (ESV) 1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
Lady Wisdom makes a final plea for anyone and everyone to come and learn from her.
Verse 1 says that she has built her house, designing it with seven pillars. This is another way of saying that Wisdom is safe. You have nothing to fear from her. She will not fail. Of course, Solomon uses a figure of speech here. To understand what she’s saying, we need to know just a little bit about architecture. The pillars hold up the roof. Remember when Samson brought down the house of the Philistines? He asked the servant boy to put his hands on the pillars. He pushed the pillars apart, and the structure collapsed. Lady Wisdom hewed the pillars for her house herself. She did not leave one of the most important elements of the structure to someone else. Furthermore, she designed the house with seven pillars. I don’t think we’re to take the number seven literally, just as Lady Wisdom hasn’t literally built a house. The number seven represents completion or perfection. Lady Wisdom has built the perfect house. It is safe. It will not fall or fail.
Not only is her house safe, but it is also welcoming. She has prepared a meal, giving it just as much attention as she did to the house. When the meal and the table are all in order, she summons all who will to come. A meal is more than the eating of food. It’s fellowship. This fellowship around the table is a staple in Ancient Near Eastern culture and society. Lady Wisdom is calling the simple, those who lack sense, to come and fellowship with her. Even more, she wants them to enjoy themselves. When my son makes a great steak or some awesome ribs, we really enjoy that. Add some deep fellowship to that and you have a great recipe for enjoying life. That’s the kind of thing Lady Wisdom is calling people to.
'Come, fellowship with me. Taste my wisdom. Savor it. Let it nourish you. Let me be a dear friend to you.'
The result is more than food or fellowship (keeping in mind that this isn’t literal); it’s fullness of life. It’s the enjoyment of life, savoring all that God has created it to be.
Are you hungry? Lady Wisdom calls. Will you respond?