Message: Remembering for Peace / Micah 4:1-5

 

In days to come

    the mountain of the LORD’s house

    shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be raised up above the hills.

    Peoples shall stream 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 that we may walk in his paths.”

    For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

 He shall judge between many peoples,

    and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;

    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;

  but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,

    and no one shall make them afraid;

    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

  For all the peoples walk,

    each in the name of its god,

    but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God

    forever and ever.

 

Today, as we gather for Remembrance Sunday, we come together to honour the men and women who have served Canada. We especially remember those who fought for this country in the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War, as well as those who have served since. More than 2.3 million Canadians have served in this way, and over 118,000 gave their lives. As someone of Korean heritage, I personally want to offer my sincere thanks to the 26,791 Canadian soldiers who served in the Korean War. Without their sacrifice, I might not have grown up with the freedom to worship as a Christian.


Our first reading today comes from the prophet Micah, who dreamed of peace for the whole world. He envisioned a day when people would live by God’s justice, putting down their weapons and turning them into tools for farming. In this new world, no one would face hunger or fear. Rather than taking from others, everyone would work fairly and share the results of their efforts. He saw a society where the vulnerable would receive the care they needed.


However, Micah’s vision didn’t come from blind optimism or idealism. He was not some dreamer ignoring the problems of his time. He was well aware of the harsh realities around him. As a prophet, he served in the kingdom of Judah during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Ahaz, in particular, was known as one of the most corrupt rulers, fueling injustice and oppression. The issues weren’t limited to political leaders; religious leaders were also misleading people, focusing on wealth instead of God. It’s not only today that a criminal, who deceives people with promises of economic development, becomes the leader of a country. Micah rebukes them sharply:


“Listen to me, you rulers of Israel, you that hate justice and turn right into wrong. You are building God’s city, Jerusalem, on a foundation of murder and injustice. The city’s rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money—and they all claim that the LORD is with them. “No harm will come to us,” they say. [...] Because of you, Zion will be ploughed like a field, Jerusalem will become a pile of ruins, and the Temple hill will become a forest.” (3:9-12 / Good News Bible)

 

Micah saw his country’s leadership failing its people, turning away from both God and justice. But it wasn’t just internal problems he faced; there were also threats from powerful nations around them. The Assyrian Empire, with its military strength, threatened and conquered many neighboring countries, spreading chaos and suffering throughout the region. Nations fell one by one, including the Northern Kingdom of Israel. As some nations sought help from Egypt, the conflict only grew worse. When the most powerful nation chooses a path of evil, the suffering doesn’t stay within its borders—it spreads far and wide. Micah prophesied about what was to come for Assyria as follows:

 

“But you, Bethlehem, David’s country, the runt of the litter— From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. [...] And if some bullying Assyrian shows up, invades and violates our land, don’t worry. We’ll put him in his place, send him packing, and watch his every move. Shepherd-rule will extend as far as needed, to Assyria and all other Nimrod-bullies. Our shepherd-ruler will save us from old or new enemies, from anyone who invades or violates our land.” (5:2, 5-6 / The Message Bible)

 

Despite all the trouble around him, Micah never gave up hope. He held on to God’s promise of peace. Micah’s hope was not naïve; it was grounded in remembrance. He remembered how God had freed his ancestors from slavery in Egypt, how God had guided them through the wilderness, and how God had remained faithful, even when the people strayed. Through Micah’s words, God urged the people to remember the past in order to find renewed hope:


“I brought you out of Egypt; I rescued you from slavery; I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned to do to you and how Balaam son of Beor answered him. Remember the things that happened on the way from the camp at Acacia to Gilgal. Remember these things and you will realize what I did in order to save you.” (6:4–5 / Good News Bible)

 

Micah remembered what God had done through those who had dedicated their lives to liberating their people from oppression, even when the situations seemed hopeless and impossible. By remembering their sacrifices and the ways in which God had worked in the past, Micah found hope and strength. This is why the Book of Micah ends on a hopeful note, with a song that reminds us of God's promise to show mercy and compassion to all people, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be.


“(O God,) you will be merciful to us once again. You will trample our sins underfoot and send them to the bottom of the sea! You will show your faithfulness and constant love to your people, the descendants of Abraham and of Jacob, as you promised our ancestors long ago.” (7:19–20 / Good News Bible)

 

Micah’s voice reminds us that remembrance is about more than honouring the past—it’s about shaping our future. Remembering gives us the strength to continue working toward a peaceful world. When we remember those who served and sacrificed, we find renewed purpose in making our communities safer, more welcoming, and more just.


On this Remembrance Sunday, we are called to remember. We remember the sacrifices made by so many who left their homes, families, and friends to pursue peace and freedom. We also remember the importance of working toward a better world—not just hoping for peace, but actively seeking it in our lives, our communities, and our world.


So, lest we forget. Let us carry forward the legacy of those who have come before us, seeking peace and justice in all we do. Let us work together to build a world worthy of the sacrifices made. May we be people of peace and hope, so that God’s vision of a world without weapons and wars becomes our reality. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

Ingleside-Newington United Church & St. Andrew's-St. Mark United Church

Remembrance Sunday, 2024

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