Beat their swords into plowshares

There are only two days to read Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah. Micah was a minor prophet because people collected only seven chapters of his prophecy. The most conspicuous passage is Micah 4:1-3, which is nearly identical to Isaiah 2:2-4.
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; 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 any more; (Micah 4:1-3)

וְהָיָה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים יִהְיֶה הַר בֵּית־יְהוָה נָכוֹן בְּרֹאשׁ הֶהָרִים וְנִשָּׂא הוּא מִ‍גְּבָעוֹת וְנָהֲרוּ עָלָיו עַמִּים׃
וְהָלְכוּ גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וְאָמְרוּ לְכוּ וְנַעֲלֶה אֶל־הַר־יְהוָה וְאֶל־בֵּית אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב וְיוֹרֵנוּ מִ‍דְּרָכָיו וְנֵלְכָה בְּאֹרְחֹתָיו כִּי מִ‍צִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה וּדְבַר־יְהוָה מִ‍ירוּשָׁלִָם׃
וְשָׁפַט בֵּין עַמִּים רַבִּים וְהוֹכִיחַ לְגוֹיִם עֲצֻמִים עַד־רָחוֹק וְכִתְּתוּ חַרְבֹתֵיהֶם לְאִתִּים וַחֲנִיתֹתֵיהֶם לְמַזְמֵרוֹת לֹא־יִשְׂאוּ גּוֹי אֶל־גּוֹי חֶרֶב וְלֹא־יִלְמְדוּן עוֹד מִלְחָמָה׃

Again, Micah called up the familiar peaceful formula: people sitting under their vines and their fig trees without fear (Micah 4:4). This formula is found in 1 Kings 4:25 and Zechariah 3:10 as well. So, God promises an everlasting peace in the latter days when people shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. It is interesting to note that another minor prophet, Joel, prophesized just the opposite!
Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war, stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior." (Joel 3:9-10)
Therefore, it is all a matter of timing. There are times for wars but in the end, peace. This is the aspiration shared by all.
Micah belonged to the tradition of the prophets who criticized kings, priests and the rich in bringing about the downfall of the nation. Idolatry and exploitation of the poor were the major sins. Micah emphasized once more the priority of justice, mercy and obedience to the Lord over sacrifices.
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:7-8)
I have not done enough justice to the book of Micah. Suffice to remember his advice that doing justice, charity and obedience pleases God, our Saviour.

My dear Advocate, let us remember Micah's advice and follow it accordingly. Though conflicts and disputes are inevitable, peace is not a luxury. We know that we are but insignificant but we firmly believe that minor and negligible good will accumulate. Everlasting peace is a reachable goal. Amen.