It seems to be a continual theme. How the generations have responded has been significantly different, yet the theme never changes. Peace. Why can't we all just get along? Students of history remind us that there has never been a time whereby we have given peace a chance. It always seems that just about the time the dust settles from the last conflict, another turmoil rears its head with its "divide and conquer" mantra to disrupt the living of life. 
The motivations for this disruption are all the same. The amassing of wealth, power, and the influence that comes with both causes individuals, organizations, and nations to continually push boundaries until the breaches overwhelm the systems put in place to protect the populace.
Most folks just want to do what's right, show understanding to others, and live their lives. They watch to see what will happen as they're waiting, waiting, waiting on the world to change...
At the 49th Grammy Awards, John Mayer was awarded the grammy for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance for today's featured song. Since its release, it has sold over 4,000,000 copies (combined physical and digital formats) as it very quickly became generation "Y"'s anthem for peace and prosperity for all people. "Waiting On The World To Change" peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it appeared for 41 weeks. The Hot 100 wasn't the only chart impacted by John Mayer's ode to peace. Helping to solidify its longevity on the mainstream singles chart. it went all the way to #1 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
"Waiting On The World To Change" proved to be so popular so fast that it was included in the September 2006 season 7 premiere "Built to Kill, Pt. 1" of the popular CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. " Built to Kill Pt. 1" - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Despite the awards, chart performance, and television promotions, "Waiting On The World To Change" received mixed reviews ranging from "...a lovely and anger-free ode to a vaguely dissatisfied generation..." in the NY Times (MUSIC REVIEW | JOHN MAYER The Apologetic Pop Star, Still Trying to Claim the Blues The New York Times By Kelefa Sanneh March 2, 2007) to the Chicago Tribune's "... the most spineless social-justice song ever written...." (Crossroad Guitar Festival Coverage 2007).
As you listen to "Waiting On The World To Change" you may soon realize that there is a familiarity that you can't quite put your finger on. Give this a listen: "People Get Ready" by Curtis Mayfield
The chord progression (the flow of chords through a song) is very similar in these songs. They are not alone as many blues, rock, and soul songs follow the I - vi - IV - I - V - vi - IV - I movement of the chords for the structure of their songs. Find your local favorite college music major or band director for a complete explanation of what those roman numerals mean. Your elementary teacher would be proud of your use of Roman Numerals!!!
"...Now we see everything that's going wrong ...And when you trust your television
With the world and those who lead it What you get is what you got
We just feel like we don't have the means Cause when they own the information, oh
To rise above and beat it... They can bend it all they want..."
This could very well be said of those who lived in the prophet Micah's day. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. Micah preached a very similar message to the Southern Israel kingdom of Judah. That message? "Because of our lack of faithfulness to God, we are about to be taken away into captivity for 70 years. But there is hope. We will have a remnant return. Eventually, a leader will arise whose kingdom will be forever." The similarities between Micah and Isaiah's messages continue as they condemn the surrounding nations and the "established" rulers of Israel for the plight that is about to occur. The common folk could see what was going on but were either apathetic, compliant, or just powerless to do anything about it by this point. Micah doesn't include the detail that Isaiah does, thus accounting for only 7 chapters versus Isaiah's 66.
In Micah 4 and 5 there is much said about the theme of today's song, peace. This seems somewhat ridiculous in Micah's message filled with gloom and doom, yet there it is. "...swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks...sitting under his vine or fig tree..." Haven't heard of any of that going on recently have you? This idyllic situation is brought to them AFTER they have suffered the indignity of being conquered. Grant it the populace of Judah are not enslaved like they were in Egypt, but they were still subservient to the world power of the time, and by no means did they have the feeling of being free or peaceful.
Then the servant/leader comes on to the scene to be the judge of the entire world in Micah 5. "This One will be our peace." That peace came in the form of the man Jesus whose message of "love God and love your neighbor" could have revolutionized the world of their time had His contemporaries embraced them.
The peace that we so long for in our generation will come when Jesus comes to rule on His second trip to earth. Only through Him will we see the wars stop and power struggles discontinue. But more on that later...
It seems so much is said about peace in our world. We keep waiting, waiting, waiting on the world to change. Well, maybe that is the problem folks. Waiting on the world will never be our answer. Because the world is in a perpetual cycle of change that brings it right back to wars, and unrest. Maybe, just maybe, what we so desperately seek is a constant on which we can depend. Perhaps we need to embrace God's word as related to us through the prophet Malachi. "I, the Lord, do not change..." Malachi 3:6 NASB/AMP/KJV Since the Lord doesn't change, maybe we should stop waiting on the world to change and seek the answer internally.
The change our world so desperately needs can only happen one person at a time. I am the only person who can control that change in myself. You are the only person who can control the change in you. If we want peace then we should seek to be like the servant/leader who is coming that will bring about Peace. His name is Jesus and He asks us to honor His sacrifice for our sins (torture and death via crucifixion for our wrongdoings) by repenting (turning away from those sins) and turning toward His leadership and guidance for our lives (with God as Holy Spirit dwelling in us). If we do that, a peace that passes all understanding will envelop us as we turn the control of our lives over to Holy Spirit. Philippians 4:7 NASB/AMP/KJV At that point, we no longer need to keep waiting, waiting, waiting on the world to change, as we will be the instigators, one person at a time, of a change that will be unparalleled and bring the ultimate peace...
'Til Tuesday,
Serving Him by Loving You,
randy
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