“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Micah 4:3
Micah is describing total disarmament—something that’s never been seen in world history—all bombs exploded, all weapons eliminated, all training camps closed, all prisons emptied, and all national defence budgets reallocated.
Now, of course, we find this almost impossible to imagine, because the only world we have ever known is one in which there is hostility, fear, and danger. But Micah speaks of a day when there will be peace on earth—imagine that. It’s quite a dream!
Along with this peace, there will also be security: “They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid” (4:4). Imagine being able to walk the streets of London any time, day or night, without being afraid—no stories of murder or rape, and no reports of theft.
These sound like beautiful words for church on Sunday, but they are obviously light years away from the reality of the world we live in today. So, is Micah just a dreamer? Notice what Micah says at the end of verse 4: “They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.”
Micah is saying, “You need to know that I’m not just dreaming here. What I’m describing is not some vague hope for a better world. It’s not a dream. It’s a promise! This is the promise of Almighty God!”
What is your initial reaction to the idea of peace on earth? Laughable? Sceptical? Hopeless? Hopeful? “Yawn”? Something else?
