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Saul therefore said, \u201cCome here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son [the gift of God], he must die.\u201d But not one of them said a word. \u2026 Saul said, \u201cCast the lot between me and [the gift of God] my son.\u201d And [the gift of God] was taken. Then Saul said to [the gift of God], \u201cTell me what you have done.\u201d So [the gift of God] told him, \u201cI tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!\u201d Saul said, \u201cMay God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, [gift of God].\u201d But the men said to Saul, \u201cShould [the gift of God] die\u2014he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God\u2019s help.\u201d So the men rescued [the gift of God], and he was not put to death. (1 Samuel 14:38-39, 42-45).

Our Father in heaven is the good gardener, but fruit can be hard to seen. \xa01 Samuel offers some lovely case studies to train our eyes for it.

The fruit born by Saul\u2019s kingship is shown to be the fruit of death. \xa0The fruit of God\u2019s kingship, however, is the gift of life and salvation. \xa0Jonathan embodies these \u201cgifts of God\u201d throughout the narrative. \xa0It\u2019s what his name literally means, which is why I\u2019ve read this meaning into every instance of his name in the text above.

This text brings the showdown between Saul\u2019s ways and God\u2019s. \xa0In the verses leading up to this moment, we have seen that Saul uses religious rituals and words devoid of faith, we have seen how he is willing to dehumanize his men and drag them nearer to sin, we have seen his rash oath-taking cut the men off from the promised land\u2019s flow of honey, and now here another bad-faith oath places even his son and the very gift of God that brought salvation under the threat of death.

Jonathan\u2019s story leading up to this moment is different though. \xa0Even without the rituals of Israel\u2019s religion, Jonathan is able to hear from God. \xa0Jonathan is able to see and taste the honey of the land of God\u2019s promise. \xa0Through nothing more than Jonathan\u2019s faith, God begins defeating the enemy in battle\u2014causing the Philistines to begin striking each other. \xa0God\u2019s salvation, promises, and gifts are things that Jonathan can not only see and receive, but also participate in in ways that bring life and salvation to himself and the people.

Yet Saul has not understood that this great victory was a salvation-gift from God. \xa0As far as Saul can tell\u2014it is he who has \u201cavenged myself on my enemies\u201d (1 Sam 14:24). \xa0Saul wants more. \xa0He wants to continue doing his work in his own strength, constraining his men in whatever dehumanizing ways he needs to in order to see it done. \xa0But a priest steps in and says: maybe we should inquire of the LORD. \xa0So Saul does. \xa0But he receives only silence. \xa0Saul assumes there must be some sin afoot, and is angered by the thought that some misdeed in the camp could be keeping him from his prize. \xa0So he declares that even if the fault lies with God\u2019s most precious gift to him\u2014his own son\u2014Saul will kill that gift to get what he wants. \xa0It\u2019s a devil\u2019s bargain if ever there was one.

But God will not be manipulated, despite Saul\u2019s oaths and religious rituals. \xa0Nor will the men. \xa0They have seen and judged for themselves what is good. \xa0They have seen God\u2019s gifts: the ones they were kept from tasting\u2014like the promised land flowing with milk and honey\u2014but also the gift of God\u2019s salvation come through God\u2019s gift in Jonathan. \xa0 \xa0

The men decide that they can no longer abide with the death-dealing fruit of Saul. \xa0They choose for God\u2019s gift of life. \xa0Jonathan is saved. \xa0The men have judged these trees by their fruit and have chosen well. \xa0Our Gardener God\u2019s kingship brings life and his gifts are good. \xa0May you have the eyes to see these gifts and make the same choice today.

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