Micah 4:1-5

Do what is right; good things will happen. That was the message that Micah had for Israel. They heard the message, they understood the message, but they did not accept the message. They did not accept the responsibility to do what was right because they did not accept God’s definition of what was good.

They wanted to be rich, but silver and gold was not among the good things that God promised. God promised they would no longer live in fear; they would plant their crops with the assurance that they would reap the harvest. They would sit under their own vine and fig tree; it was not enough, they wanted to own the whole vineyard.

They wanted to be militarily powerful; God’s definition of good did not include Israel having a mighty military, but it did include peace. He tells them that if they live right other nations will respect them and their God. As a righteous nation with God as their protector, they would live in peace. Their young men would no longer have to go off to war. Turning swords and spears into farming implements was not an easy process, and it was not something any nation would do if war remained a threat.

As a righteous nation they would be impartial and would not make political alliances. Other nations would consider Israel to be an impartial and righteous judge; they would settle disputes not with force but with wisdom. Many would come to Jerusalem to learn the ways of the Lord.  Not all nations would accept the Lord as their God, but they would all allow Israel to live in peace.

Israel’s failure was not a failure of belief; it was a failure of desire. They did not desire what God desired. They wanted wealth and power and he promised peace and righteousness. They wanted to rule the world and he wanted to save it. We cannot refuse to desire what God desires, and still expect the good things He has offered.