As you will probably be reading this around the Sabbath, I thought I would share an interesting observation made by Benjamin Franklin about God’s judgment and the Sabbath.
Franklin’s observation was made during a trip to the continent (Europe) in the summer of 1761.
“Franklin noted with pleasure that the observance of religion was not as strict as in America, especially when it came to observing Sundays as the Sabbath. “In the afternoon both high and low went to the play or the opera, where there was plenty of singing, fiddling and dancing,” he reported to a Connecticut friend. “I looked around for God’s judgments but saw no signs of them.” He concluded, with a touch of amusement, that this provided evidence that the Lord did not care so much about preventing pleasure on the Sabbath as the strict Puritans would have people believe. The happiness and prosperity in Flanders he wrote, “would almost make one suspect that the Deity is not angry at that offense as a New England justice.”
“Benjamin Franklin: An American Life", by Walter Isaacson, pp. 199-200).
Is Benjamin Franklin correct in his assessment of God not making observable judgments about Sabbath-breaking? First of all, Sunday isn’t the Sabbath, so indulging in various amusements would not be in violation of the Sabbath.
Most sadly neither the religious Puritans nor the people of Flanders knew of the need to observe the 7th Day Sabbath. They were all following the tradition handed down to one generation to another for nearly 1700 years: that the Sabbath was on Sunday.
Was God judging this matter? Absolutely. Not keeping the Sabbath is sin and just because God does not take action does not mean God does not take notice. On the contrary, God tells us that we will all have to give account to God for our actions (Romans 14:12).
The saddest conclusion about Benjamin Franklin and God’s judgment is that since there do not appear to be any observable sanctions from the throne of heaven, then everything is OK with God. This is a wrong conclusion reached by Benjamin Franklin in this instance and by mankind in general throughout the ages.
The breaking of the Sabbath is sin. Even if there is no immediate punishment for this sin, it has been noted by God and there will be a day of reckoning.
Benjamin Franklin was a wise man in his own way, but the proper understanding of God’s judgment is given by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
11. Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
In other words, just because God does not execute the sentence against sinners immediately, this does not mean there will not be judgment at a future time.
As we well know, keeping the Sabbath is essential to our relationship with God and always will be.
Rejoice in the Sabbath Day,
Gary Smith
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