"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 4:3) "I am for peace, but when I speak they are for war."(Psalm 120:7) "Then Jesus said to him 'Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."(Matthew 27:52)
My blog for most of the year has been based on the readings from what is called the Bible Challenge. Usually I choose a verse from one of the three assigned readings for the day. Today though I noticed some verses that seemed to have a connection
As we reflect on the news each day, it is not hard to see how these verses might have something for us to consider. Whether we reflect on the ongoing conflict between the Israeli army and Hamas; the violence in the Ukraine, civil war in the Sudan, kidnapping of young girls in Nigeria, ISIS running over Iraq, and the continuing conflict in Afghanistan. Even locally we have car jackings, school shootings, domestic disputes, and other forms of violence. There seems no end.
Yet there are the verses in scripture that should point us in a different direction. The idea in Micah of repurposing our implements of destruction and violence, into devices that sustain life and create community. What would that be like in our world. To not learn or engage in war any more.
To think of being the voice that tries to be reasonable in all this chaos, calling forth for a different way of settling our differences. Very lonely place to be once everyone has gotten sucked into the hostile energy.
But the most sobering our Jesus' own words warning that violence will come right back at you like a boomerang. You want to take up a sword, gun or raise your fist, it will eventually come back to haunt you or be your own demise.
It is very hard to maintain an inner peace with this much violence in the world, even if it isn't actually any more than has ever been. The difference we are saturated with news of it even if it isn't right on our front door.
Blessings,
Ed
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