Neville Goddard on 1 Samuel 18:5-16 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Samuel 18 in context

Scripture Focus

5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

15Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

1 Samuel 18:5-16

Biblical Context

David rises in rank and favor through wise service. Saul grows fearful as the Lord's presence with David becomes evident.

Neville's Inner Vision

David in this passage is the awake I AM within you, moving forward with discernment and wise action. Saul embodies the old self clinging to status and fearing the new order. The outward praise of the people mirrors how your inner order is recognised in life when you align with the higher state; the line that David has ten thousands while Saul has thousands reveals the natural preference of your consciousness for the superior state. The so-called 'evil spirit from God' is not a judgment but the inner collision that arises when your new kingdom asserts itself. Your genuine response, like David’s, is calm, decisive, and faithful action—let the instrument be your daily acts, performed with confidence rather than anxiety. The Lord’s presence with David signifies the I AM abiding in your new state; fear dissolves, and the outer world begins to reflect the inner alignment, as you move from admiration of the good to its embodiment in life.

Practice This Now

Assume right now that you are operating as the David state—wise, beloved, and in command. Feel this inner alignment as reality; when old doubts rise, revise them by declaring, 'The I AM is with me,' and act from that certainty.