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Download These Notes Here:

Session 13 How To Handle a Proverb Like a King.pdf

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I. Begin with the Proverb: Case Law You Can Trust

• The king doesn’t start with the scroll, he starts with the saying.
  • Proverbs 10–29 are field rulings, compact precedents from Torah-shaped judgment.
  • If the king knows the proverb, he won’t misjudge the man.
• Why this works:
  • These sayings are not detached from Torah, they are Torah-in-action.
  • They’ve already passed legal inspection. They’re distilled justice. They can be trusted to uphold the law.
• Practical takeaway:
  • Memorize the proverb, trust its judgment.
  • You don’t need chapter and verse in the moment. The proverb is the verse in action.
  • The proverb will “cut to the chase” and reveal core issues in a moment’s time, allowing the king to make quick decisions in judgment.

II. Use the Style: How the Saying Works Tells You What It Means

• Form shapes function. The king reads not just what is said, but how.
  • Antithetic – shows contrast. Who’s righteous, who’s wicked.
  • Synthetic – builds the reasoning. Watch the consequence.
  • Synonymous – hammers a truth twice. Double emphasis means double weight.
  • One-liner – delivers a straight verdict. A ruling in miniature.
  • Wordplay/mirror – draws attention. Don’t overlook the clever ones—they’re sharpened for memory.
• The style tells the judge how to compare.
  • Which man standing before him fits the pattern?
  • Which party belongs on which side of the “but”?
  • What one-liner proverb seems almost written for this scenario?

III. Render the Judgment: Make the Call and Let the Lawyers Catch Up

• The king’s job isn’t to write commentary, it’s to discern character.
  • He doesn’t wait to find Torah footnotes, he applies the proverb.
  • If the proverb calls a man wicked, the king doesn’t hesitate to treat him as such.
• Three questions the king should ask:
  1. What does this proverb “rule”? (What kind of case is it designed to judge?)
  2. Which party fits the pattern? (Who’s the righteous? Who’s the fool?)
  3. What judgment does the proverb demand?
• Legal foundations come later, if needed.
  • The lawyers and scribes can trace the ruling back to Torah.
  • The king’s wisdom is shown in his ability to trust inspired precedent.

Conclusion: From Proverb to Verdict

Proverbs 10–29 isn’t a list of helpful sayings. It’s a benchbook for the throne. A wise king doesn’t consult it like a devotional—he wields it like a gavel.

He doesn’t just study the Law—he embodies it.

Examples from Proverbs 10-14

I. Judge the Proverb: Use the Pattern, Not Your Gut

• The king isn’t making up wisdom—he’s executing it.
  • Every proverb is a verdict-in-waiting. It tells the king what kind of person he’s dealing with.
  • The king’s job is not to explain the proverb, but to act on it.
• Why this works:
  • These proverbs are rooted in covenant law. They are not floating moral truths or generalized advice.
  • If Torah says laziness leads to poverty, the proverb affirms it, and the king applies it.