Kevin,
You are spot on with your example of Proverbs 2:1. Yes, the instructions or musings are not from God, or his agent(s) to Israel, but from wise men to their contemporaries. Moreover, these instructions are almost all valid in any age and place in the world. I say almost all because, I dare say, some of them are demonstrably false or too Pollyannaish, to say the least. 2:19 (Truthful libs endure forever.. and 2:21(No harm happens to the righteous...) On the other extreme, I have seen verses such as 18:16 (A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great) to be taken literally by people of high position to demand exorbitant bribes and favors and rationalize it by pointing to it.