One of the themes of the book of Proverbs is the hiddenness of wisdom. In some sense, she is easy to find. In another sense, it takes time and money to find her.
The important thing to remember is the beginning of wisdom. In order to find wisdom, you need the right starting point. That starting point is the fear of the Lord. Solomon tells us that repeatedly, but particularly at the beginning of the book. He already tells in the first chapter the seventh verse that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
When you fear the Lord in a sense you already have wisdom, but that is only the beginning. She is out in the marketplace calling in chapter 1 of Proverbe, but approaching her seat is only the beginning.
There is a wisdom to learn within the wisdom that is given. We have the creation of God. We have the Word of God. Both are places where Solomon goes to find wisdom. In Chapter 8 of Proverbs, Solomon speaks of how God built the foundation of the world with wisdom. Throughout the book of Proverbs Solomon will talk about lessons he learns from the animals (i.e. go to the ant, you sluggard). One also learns wisdom by remembering the law of their father and mother. God provides authorities on this earth to give us wisdom.
The ultimate wisdom is “to trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).” Wisdom begins with the Lord and ends with the Lord. But the goal is not thoughtless submission. That is clear from all the different things that Solomon calls us to consider. The goal is deep reflection, deep understanding of the goodness that the Lord has given.
Proverbs is a challenge to listen. It is a challenge to learn and reflect on the commandments that the Lord has given us; to apply that word so that we may discern between good and evil. Ultimately it is a challenge to search out wisdom, to move from wisdom to greater wisdom. (It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out (Proverbs 25:2).
