Neville Goddard on 1 Samuel 28:20-23 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Samuel 28 in context

Scripture Focus

20Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

21And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

22Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

23But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

1 Samuel 28:20-23

Biblical Context

Saul collapses in fear and is weakened after Samuel's words. The woman and her servants urge nourishment, but Saul refuses.

Neville's Inner Vision

Saul’s body collapsing is a vivid image of a consciousness that has forgotten its I AM power. The words of Samuel are not a punishment but a signal from the inner Self, reminding you that you are not the fear you feel. The witch's bread and the entourage represent inward beliefs offering sustenance to the current state—poverty, distress, fatigue—until you decide differently. When Saul refuses the morsel, he chooses to starve the living I AM for the comfort of a known discomfort. You can revise this by turning toward the inner nourishment and heeding the inner voice, for in Neville's method you are not waiting for power from without; you are awakening it within by assuming the feeling of strength now. Eat of the bread of life in imagination, and let the old weakness melt away as you rise with purpose to continue your journey. The moment you declare, I am strength, I have eaten, and I go forth, you shift your entire circumstance from fear to confident action.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes, and imagine you have eaten the bread of life, feeling strength return. Repeat, 'I am strength now' until the sensation is vivid, then proceed as if already renewed.