Neville Goddard on 2 Samuel 12:1-6 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 2 Samuel 12 in context

Scripture Focus

1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

2 Samuel 12:1-6

Biblical Context

Two men in a city: one rich with flocks, one poor with a single beloved lamb. David condemns the theft, exposing the parable as a test of justice and mercy.

Neville's Inner Vision

In the inner theater of your mind there are two men: the rich man, overflowing with outer abundance, and the poor man, whose one lamb is the living symbol of your tender inner life. The traveler who comes to the rich man represents the intrusion of demand from the outer world. David’s outcry mirrors the moral voice of your surface ego—your judgment that such taking is unjust. Yet the true work is spiritual: Nathan’s parable is a cue for you to inquire within and discover which state has been governing you. When you identify with the I AM—your eternal awareness—you understand that scarcity and attack come from misaligned imagination, not from a punitive external God. The fourfold restoration is the promise that when you revise the scene with the I AM as the judge and healer, balance returns to your inner life, and the abundance of your consciousness flows outward as justified peace and mercy. Imagination creates reality; thus, your inner verdict can restore harmony now.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and revise the scene in your mind: the lamb is your cherished inner life; declare, 'I AM has restored the lamb fourfold,' and feel the balance of justice, mercy, and abundance now in your awareness.