Neville Goddard on Isaiah 57:9 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Isaiah 57 in context

Scripture Focus

9And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

Isaiah 57:9

Biblical Context

The verse depicts the soul chasing external honors and ritual to gain favor, using ointments and perfumes as symbols of status, and debasing itself to a hellish state.

Neville's Inner Vision

Think of the king in Isaiah as the I AM that you are. When you go to the king with ointment and increase perfumes, you are dressing the ego in the garb of power, seeking to buy approval from a distant authority. When you send your messengers far off, you cast thoughts outward for support, as if your inner life depends on the verdict of some external ruler. This is not real power; it is a dream of separation, a descent into hell because you trust appearances rather than the I AM that lives in you. In Neville's psychology, every scene on the page is a state of consciousness you occupy. The king is within you; the room you inhabit is your present awareness; the perfumes are hopes, fears, and social images that pretend to confer significance. To wake, revise the scene: assume you are already in the king's presence, you are the king, and the world reflects your inner recognition. Let the belief in external influence fall away, and feel the unity of consciousness here and now. The true worship is simply awareness, not ritual.