All we want is peace.

Reflection based on Micah 4:1-5

We all wonder if there will ever be peace in our world. Will the people of violence stop bringing terror to people lives whether it’s through the wars being reported on the TV or to local street conflict caused be drugs and alcohol? In church services which pray for Peace the words from Micah are frequently quoted because he talks of a new age of peace coming from Jerusalem and swords being turned into ploughshares. Micah 4.1-5 is part of a group of passages on the promise of the coming of God’s kingdom. He wrote and prophesied the come of God’s chosen one who would change the world for the better. Micah’s words are also used at Christmas. Micah 5:2-4: “God promises a ruler from Bethlehem”: is regularly used in Worship to announce the coming of Jesus.     

As a prophet, Micah spoke both to Judah and Israel, usually referring to them by the names of their capital cities. He lived in a rural area and appeared to have been less familiar with the politics of Jerusalem than his contemporary Isaiah, who lived and prophesied in that city. However, Micah lived near the coastal road over which traders, pilgrims and solders had passed for hundreds of years. He must have observed the traffic between Egypt and Jerusalem and noted the corrupting influences of this entangling foreign alliance.  He was able to see beyond the gloomy predictions and predicts a time of hope.  

Out of the ashes of a bad old Jerusalem will raise a New Jerusalem, a Mecca for all people. The message also occurs in Isaiah 2:2-5. God’s aim was to use Jerusalem in his positive plans for the world at large. The Gentiles were to stream to Jerusalem, seeking God’s will and then return to put it into practice in their societies. It was for God’s people to lead the way. If other people did not yet consult Israel’s God, let alone walk in his paths, it was Israel’s present task to show them how it should and could be done. It is a beautiful dream, but what of the present?

What of Jerusalem today? Many people seeing it as a mecca (not to be confused with Mecca in Saudi Araba.) for people of different faith so part of Micah’s prophecy is correct although Jerusalem is not a place of peace. Many of the pilgrims have very different approaches and find it hard to tolerant the others who share the city. If we are ever going to have peace Jerusalem would be a good place to start. We must all pray that the different groups living and visiting Jerusalem will one day learn to live in Peace.  

It is the politicians whose desire for power leads countries into wars and conflict. We can see this in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where extreme ideologies have led to the oppression of people. Plus, in Latin and South America the situation is complicated by drug gangs fighting for power while governments are unable to bring peace and stability. In recent time we have seen Russia invade Ukraine. This has been driven by one man’s misguide ideology. The battle to bring peace and love to the world is proving a difficult challenge. In the 21 century these types of political power struggles can be seen creating conflict and suffering. Now in peaceful countries they must also cope with the terrorist, which means our armed forces and police risk their lives to protect us from harm in our own countries. These are not invaders but people who are misguided and encouraged by extreme fanatics.    

Many people dream of a time when weapons of war will be turned into peaceful instruments. But it will not become a reality, while a few powerful leaders seek to resolve disagreements by conflict we all have to work and pray for peace. The beating of swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks has come to symbolise disarmament.  The climax of the saying comes in Micah chapter 4, verse 3 and 4 with the peace-making theme. It is a battle cry for the peace maker. This means that those who wish to bring peace to the world will have to become peacemakers using their energy and imagination to help nations bring about disarmament. These texts are a call to be involved in the political processes, to work from within existing structures, to invent new structures, all for the purpose of bringing about the realization of the vision of peace.

Working for peace must start with individual not just Government. It is a bottom-up approach. In your local community how do people resolve disagreement and disputes? There are still a worrying number of cases of domestic violence, gang crimes resulting in stabbings and gun crimes, and violent disputes between neighbours. There are far too many places in the world where it is not safe for people particularly women to go out alone. If we are to have peace, we all should work and support organisation that are working for peace.  We should all continue to vigorously pray for peace and to work with our neighbours to create a peaceful world.