Swords into Plowshares
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 49, “He Delighteth in Mercy,” on Gospel Library
Start
Micah saw a day when people from many nations would say to each other, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord” (Micah 4:2).
Read Together
Micah came from the countryside of Judah and preached in the same years as Isaiah (Micah 1:1; Isaiah 1:1). Isaiah recorded almost the same prophecy (Isaiah 2:2–4).
2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.
What It Teaches
“The mountain of the house of the Lord” is a temple (Micah 4:1). People go there so that “he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths” (verse 2). The temple is a place to learn how to live.
People who learn the Lord’s ways stop fighting. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks” (verse 3). A plowshare is the metal blade of a plow, and a pruninghook trims grapevines. Weapons become tools for growing food.
Then every man will sit “under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid” (verse 4). Peace means a family can sit outside their own home without fear. The Savior will bring that peace to the whole earth when he comes again, and he brings it now to homes that follow him.
Verse 5 ends with a choice. Other nations walk in the names of their gods, and “we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.” We took his name upon us when we were baptized.
Talk About It
What would it look like in our home to beat a sword into a plowshare? What is one argument or habit we could turn into something that helps?
Take to Church
Micah saw people from every nation going up to the Lord’s house to learn his ways. When we learn his ways, swords become plowshares, in the world and in our homes.