Isaiah 56:1
This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
Thus says the LORD
This phrase introduces a divine proclamation, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, which underscores His eternal and unchanging nature. This introduction sets the tone for a message that is not merely human wisdom but divine instruction, demanding attention and obedience from the faithful.

Preserve justice
The Hebrew word for "justice" is "mishpat," which refers to God's established order and fairness. To "preserve" justice implies maintaining and upholding God's standards in society. Historically, this call was crucial for Israel, a nation chosen to reflect God's character. In a broader sense, it challenges believers to actively engage in societal structures, ensuring they align with divine principles.

and do righteousness
"Righteousness" in Hebrew is "tsedaqah," which involves living in a way that is morally right and just. It is not merely about personal piety but encompasses social responsibility. The call to "do" righteousness suggests an active pursuit of ethical living, reflecting God's holiness in everyday actions. This phrase encourages believers to embody God's character, impacting their communities positively.

for My salvation is about to come
The term "salvation" here is "yeshuah" in Hebrew, indicating deliverance and victory. This promise of imminent salvation would have been a source of hope for the Israelites, anticipating God's intervention in their circumstances. For Christians, it foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God's salvation plan. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the assurance of His deliverance.

and My righteousness to be revealed
The revelation of God's "righteousness" signifies a future unveiling of His justice and moral order. In the prophetic context, it points to a time when God's standards will be fully manifested and recognized by all. For believers, this is a call to anticipate and prepare for the coming of God's kingdom, where His righteousness will reign supreme. It inspires a life of expectancy and readiness, aligning one's life with God's eternal purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who speaks through the prophet Isaiah, emphasizing His authority and divine will.

2. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah and Jerusalem during a time of moral and spiritual decline.

3. Judah and Jerusalem
The primary audience of Isaiah's prophecies, representing the Southern Kingdom of Israel, which was facing impending judgment and exile.

4. Salvation and Righteousness
Central themes in this verse, representing God's deliverance and moral standards, which are imminent and will be revealed to His people.

5. The Exile Context
The historical backdrop of Isaiah's prophecies, where the people of Judah were warned of the consequences of their disobedience and the hope of future restoration.
Teaching Points
The Call to Justice and Righteousness
As believers, we are called to actively pursue justice and righteousness in our daily lives, reflecting God's character and commands.

The Imminence of God's Salvation
Understanding that God's salvation is near should motivate us to live with urgency and purpose, aligning our lives with His will.

Living in Anticipation
Just as the Israelites were called to prepare for God's intervention, we too should live in anticipation of Christ's return, maintaining a lifestyle of holiness.

The Consistency of God's Message
The call to justice and righteousness is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, underscoring its importance in God's redemptive plan.

The Role of Prophecy in Encouragement
Prophetic messages like Isaiah's serve to encourage and guide us, reminding us of God's promises and the hope we have in Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the call to "preserve justice and do righteousness" in Isaiah 56:1 challenge your current lifestyle and decisions?

2. In what ways can you actively participate in promoting justice and righteousness in your community?

3. How does the anticipation of God's salvation and righteousness being revealed influence your daily walk with Christ?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's righteousness in your life. How did it impact your faith journey?

5. How can the themes of justice and righteousness in Isaiah 56:1 be seen in the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Micah 6:8
This verse echoes the call to act justly and love mercy, highlighting the consistent biblical theme of justice and righteousness as central to God's expectations for His people.

Matthew 5:6
Jesus' teaching on the Sermon on the Mount about hungering and thirsting for righteousness connects to the promise of God's righteousness being revealed.

Romans 13:11-14
Paul's exhortation to live righteously in light of the nearness of salvation parallels the urgency in Isaiah 56:1.

Psalm 85:9-13
The psalmist's anticipation of God's salvation and righteousness meeting together reflects the prophetic hope in Isaiah.

1 Peter 2:24
The fulfillment of God's righteousness through Christ's sacrifice, providing a New Testament perspective on the revelation of God's righteousness.
God's Mercy and Man's DutyIsaiah 56:1
God's Nearness a PleaR. Tuck Isaiah 56:1
Privilege and ResponsibilityF. A. Alexander.Isaiah 56:1
Reformation the Precursor of RegenerationH. Melvill, B. D.Isaiah 56:1
The Attitude of Holy ExpectationW. Clarkson Isaiah 56:1
The True Observance of the SabbathE. Johnson Isaiah 56:1-8
People
Isaiah
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Behaviour, Close, Deliverance, Favour, Judgment, Justice, Maintain, Ordered, Preserve, Quickly, Revealed, Righteousness, Rightly, Salvation, Says, Thus, Upright
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 56:1

     1075   God, justice of
     1403   God, revelation
     5361   justice, human
     8135   knowing God, nature of
     8158   righteousness, of believers
     8243   ethics, social
     8315   orthodoxy, in OT

Isaiah 56:1-2

     5874   happiness
     8245   ethics, incentives

Library
We Sure of To-Morrow? a New Year's Sermon
'To-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.'--ISAIAH lvi. 12. These words, as they stand, are the call of boon companions to new revelry. They are part of the prophet's picture of a corrupt age when the men of influence and position had thrown away their sense of duty, and had given themselves over, as aristocracies and plutocracies are ever tempted to do, to mere luxury and good living. They are summoning one another to their coarse orgies. The roystering speaker says, 'Do not be afraid
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to the riches of His mercy has at least preserved this one sacrament in His Church uninjured and uncontaminated by the devices of men, and has made it free to all nations and to men of every class. He has not suffered it to be overwhelmed with the foul and impious monstrosities of avarice and superstition; doubtless having this purpose, that He would have little children, incapable of avarice and superstition, to be initiated into
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

Nor Indeed Hath the Holy Spirit Failed to Speak what Should be of Open...
25. Nor indeed hath the Holy Spirit failed to speak what should be of open and unshaken avail against these men, most shamelessly and madly obstinate, and should repel their assault, as of wild beasts, from His sheep-fold, by defences that may not be stormed. For, after He had said concerning eunuchs, "I will give unto them in My house and in My wall a named place, much better than of sons and daughters;" [2069] lest any too carnal should think that there was any thing temporal to be hoped for in
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

The House of Prayer. --Isaiah Lvi. 7
The House of Prayer.--Isaiah lvi. 7. "My House shall be an House of Prayer For all that live, to worship there:" Thus saith the Lord:--how answer we? "Thine House, our House of Prayer shall be." "Wherever I my Name record, There will I meet Thee," saith the Lord; Thee in Thine House of Prayer we meet; Now bless us from the Mercy-seat. Thus spake the Lord--"My Son, to Thee Swear every tongue, bow every knee:" Father, by us Thy will be done, We bow the knee and "Kiss the Son." His throne and kingdom
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Lastly, Let us Hear the Lord Himself Delivering Most Plain Judgment on this Matter. ...
23. Lastly, let us hear the Lord Himself delivering most plain judgment on this matter. For, upon His speaking after a divine and fearful manner concerning husband and wife not separating, save on account of fornication, His disciples said to Him, "If the case be such with a wife, it is not good to marry." [2066] To whom He saith, "Not all receive this saying. For there are eunuchs who were so born: but there are others who were made by men: and there are eunuchs, who made themselves eunuchs for
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

That the Ruler Should be Discreet in Keeping Silence, Profitable in Speech.
The ruler should be discreet in keeping silence, profitable in speech; lest he either utter what ought to be suppressed or suppress what he ought to utter. For, as incautious speaking leads into error, so indiscreet silence leaves in error those who might have been instructed. For often improvident rulers, fearing to lose human favour, shrink timidly from speaking freely the things that are right; and, according to the voice of the Truth (Joh. x. 12), serve unto the custody of the flock by no means
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

That the Unskilful Venture not to Approach an Office of Authority.
No one presumes to teach an art till he has first, with intent meditation, learnt it. What rashness is it, then, for the unskilful to assume pastoral authority, since the government of souls is the art of arts! For who can be ignorant that the sores of the thoughts of men are more occult than the sores of the bowels? And yet how often do men who have no knowledge whatever of spiritual precepts fearlessly profess themselves physicians of the heart, though those who are ignorant of the effect of
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The History of the Prophetic Sermons, Epistles, and Apocalypses
[Sidenote: Real character and aims of the prophets] To understand and rightly interpret the prophetic writings of the Old Testament it is necessary to cast aside a false impression as to the character of the prophets which is widely prevalent. They were not foretellers, but forth-tellers. Instead of being vague dreamers, in imagination living far in the distant future, they were most emphatically men of their own times, enlightened and devoted patriots, social and ethical reformers, and spiritual
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

How those are to be Admonished who have had Experience of the Sins of the Flesh, and those who have Not.
(Admonition 29.) Differently to be admonished are those who are conscious of sins of the flesh, and those who know them not. For those who have had experience of the sins of the flesh are to be admonished that, at any rate after shipwreck, they should fear the sea, and feel horror at their risk of perdition at least when it has become known to them; lest, having been mercifully preserved after evil deeds committed, by wickedly repeating the same they die. Whence to the soul that sins and never
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

"And if Christ be in You, the Body is Dead Because of Sin; but the Spirit is Life Because of Righteousness. "
Rom. viii. 10.--"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." God's presence is his working. His presence in a soul by his Spirit is his working in such a soul in some special manner, not common to all men, but peculiar to them whom he hath chosen. Now his dwelling is nothing else but a continued, familiar and endless working in a soul, till he hath conformed all within to the image of his Son. The soul is the office house, or workhouse,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Ye Also who have not yet Made this Vow...
30. Ye also who have not yet made this vow, who are able to receive it, receive it. [2093] Run with perseverance, that ye may obtain. [2094] Take ye each his sacrifices, and enter ye into the courts [2095] of the Lord, not of necessity, having power over your own will. [2096] For not as, "Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill," [2097] can it so be said, Thou shalt not wed. The former are demanded, the latter are offered. If the latter are done, they are praised: unless the former are
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed.
(Road from Bethany and Jerusalem. Monday, April 4, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 18, 19, 12, 13; ^B Mark XI. 12-18; ^C Luke XIX. 45-48. ^b 12 And ^a 18 Now ^b on the morrow [on the Monday following the triumphal entry], ^a in the morning ^b when they were come out from Bethany, ^a as he returned to the city [Jerusalem], he hungered. [Breakfast with the Jews came late in the forenoon, and these closing days of our Lord's ministry were full of activity that did not have time to tarry at Bethany for it. Our
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Manner of Covenanting.
Previous to an examination of the manner of engaging in the exercise of Covenanting, the consideration of God's procedure towards his people while performing the service seems to claim regard. Of the manner in which the great Supreme as God acts, as well as of Himself, our knowledge is limited. Yet though even of the effects on creatures of His doings we know little, we have reason to rejoice that, in His word He has informed us, and in His providence illustrated by that word, he has given us to
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
The law of God originates in his nature, but the attributes of his creatures are due to his sovereignty. The former is, accordingly, to be viewed as necessarily obligatory on the moral subjects of his government, and the latter--which are all consistent with the holiness of the Divine nature, are to be considered as called into exercise according to his appointment. Hence, also, the law of God is independent of his creatures, though made known on their account; but the operation of their attributes
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Adoption
'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12. Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption. The qualification of the persons is, As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Love
The rule of obedience being the moral law, comprehended in the Ten Commandments, the next question is: What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' Deut 6: 5. The duty called for is love, yea, the strength of love, with all
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

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