Proverbs 9:1-6

1. Wisdom’s feast 9:1-6

The parallel between wisdom’s invitation and the one Jesus Christ extended to everyone to come to His feast illustrates the connection between wisdom and responding positively to God’s Word (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24). The "seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1) may represent a typical banquet pavilion, or they may be an allusion to the cosmos (cf. Proverbs 8:22-31) that God made in seven days. Some of the ancients envisioned the world as resting on seven pillars. Possibly the seven pillars refer to seven sections of text in chapters 2-7. [Note: Patrick W. Skehan, Studies in Israelite Poetry and Wisdom, pp. 9-14.] "Seven" to the Jews indicated perfection. Wisdom’s invitation (Proverbs 9:5) sounds like a gospel invitation (cf. John 6:51; John 6:55). The parallel between wisdom and walking in God’s ways (godliness) is again clear in this pericope.