©Michael Player
Chapter 4:3-5 (ESV) - He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore;
but 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.
For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
forever and ever.
Question to consider: Who is the one that allows us to beat our swords into plowshares?
The first five verses of Micah 4 are almost identical to the word given to Isaiah (chapter 2:2-4). It’s possible that both prophets received the same word from the LORD. However, they were contemporaries so it is also possible that they knew one another and had discussions about this promise from the LORD. Jeremiah would be born a couple of generations later and give details concerning the everlasting covenant which would bring about these promises.
Just like Jeremiah gave a letter of hope to the people going into Babylonian captivity, I believe Micah wrote his book for those who would be led into Assyrian captivity (see my entry from 2:6-10). Not only would the people be able to use it to reach a posture of repentance, but they would be given the blessed hope that one day their lament would turn to joy and peace.
The false prophets may have proclaimed a type of worldly peace for the wealthy idolaters in Israel and Judah, but those being led into captivity had only experienced oppression and want. Think of their joy in knowing that one day, their captivity would end, and the LORD would bring about an everlasting kingdom of peace which spanned the globe. This peace would be so universal that they could turn their weapons of war into farming instruments so that they could enjoy the tranquility of sitting beneath their very own vine or fig tree.
Isaiah (chapter 9) proclaimed that the one who would bring this peace would be born as a child and yet called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Being the Prince (ruler) of Peace meant that He alone determined who is in a state of righteousness with the LORD. Micah emphasized this idea by saying that we would walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.
It is also worth noting that before Israel surrendered to idols, they were the sword of God that purged the nations of sin. In the latter days, the promise was that they would no longer be God’s sword but His harvesters. This is why Jesus compared His gospel of peace with the sowing of seed that produced a harvest of righteousness. We get to proclaim that the burden of sin has been paid by Christ on the cross and that through Him we can be at peace with our Creator.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for bringing about Your promises given to Isaiah and Micah in Christ Jesus and giving us Your glorious and everlasting peace. May we be Your heralds and harvesters among the nations both near and far away, making disciples by baptizing and teaching all that Christ has commanded. Amen.