Micah’s Vision of Peace

Micah 4:1-5; 5:2-5

GOLDEN TEXT: “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.”—Micah 4:3

MICAH 5:2-5 tells of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, and that He is to be the Prince of Peace. Chapter 4:1-5 tells of the establishment of the Kingdom of peace. Thus Micah associates the coming of the Kingdom of peace with the birth of Jesus. The same order of prophecy is noted in Isaiah 9:6 and 7, where the prophet also tells of the birth of Jesus, explaining that He is to be The Prince of Peace. Here the prophet also explains that of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.

The angel who announced the birth of Jesus caught the inspiration of these prophecies, and in addition to explaining that Jesus was to be a Saviour He also was to bring peace and good will to the earth. Because of the long delay in the fulfillment of these many prophecies of peace, most people, who know about them, have concluded either that there is no genuine divine backing guaranteeing their fulfillment, or else that they are to he understood in some sort of a spiritual sense. While it is true that the acceptance of Jesus and His redemptive sacrifice, followed by a full consecration to do His will, results in a condition of peace in the heart of those thus reconciled to God, yet these prophecies of peace include something far more comprehensive than this individual work of grace in the heart, important though that be.

Jesus Himself explained that He had not come to bring peace on the earth, but a sword. But this does not mean that His coming would continuously result in a condition of animosity among the nations. As a matter of fact, His prophecy has no reference whatever to the attitude of one nation toward another. He is simply, in this way, explaining that those who accept Him, and who follow in His footsteps of self-sacrifice, and who, in obedience to His commands, proclaim the Truth of the Gospel, will find themselves estranged from the world and its spirit. Yea, such will often find that members of their own household are opposed to them. So it is that the Christian finds his greatest foes to be they of his own household.

But this condition of things is not to last forever. It is merely that which results during this Gospel age while Satan is still the prince of this world, and while those whom the Lord is calling to be associated with Jesus in His Kingdom of peace, are endeavoring, through loyalty to Him, to walk contrary to the spirit of selfishness that dominates nearly all at the present time. The very trials incident to this antagonism of the world against Christians is helping to prepare them for the glorious exaltation which will be theirs when they, as joint-heirs with the Master, shall shine forth with Him as the sun in the glorious Kingdom of righteousness soon to be established.

With the establishment of that Kingdom will come the fulfillment of the many prophecies of peace pertaining to Jesus. Our lesson states that this Kingdom of peace is to be established in the “last days.” Not the last days of time, but the last days of this present evil world. Then it will be that many people, and all nations will say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain,” or Kingdom, “of the Lord.” Then it will be that they will be taught the Lord’s ways, and when they are taught the Lord’s ways, they will learn war no more.

Then will come the time when nations will actually heat their swords into plowshares. That is to say, the resources of the nations which are now used for war purposes, will be transferred into the pursuits of peace and happiness. The nations will then learn that they cannot keep the peace by preparing for war. They will learn the ways of love instead of selfishness. In short, the laws of that divine Kingdom, when learned and fully appreciated by the people, will change the outlook of all men.

The expression, the “House” of the Lord, is based upon the ancient custom of recognizing some particular family within a nation as being the ruling family. These ruling families were called ruling “houses”. This custom is still more or less in vogue, although now pretty much of an outmoded one. The Lord’s Kingdom will be established in the hands of His family, the divine family, consisting of His own beloved Son, and associated with Him 144,000 others who become the Sons of God and who will be exalted to Kingdom glory with Jesus. This will constitute the ruling House of God, which, for a thousand years, Will impose upon mankind a rule of righteousness, justice and love.

This rule of righteousness will result in peace—universal peace. This universal peace will not only be one among the nations, but it will also be a peace within the nations. Yea, it will be a peace within each community. It will be a peace within each family. And in addition to that, it will be an individual peace of heart and mind. Above all it will be a peace between God and men, without which no lasting blessings could ever come to the children of men.

Today the nations are trying to establish peace, but are failing. Then through Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the desire of all nations will come.

QUESTIONS:

How does the Prophet Micah associate the birth of Jesus with the hope of universal peace?

What did Jesus mean when He said that He had not come to bring peace on the earth, but a sword?

What is the significance of the expression, the “house” of the Lord?

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