Isaiah 56:1
Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse links "salvation" and "righteousness" as if they are almost the same thing. This suggests that God's saving act isn't just rescue, but also the full unveiling of His just character and faithfulness to His promises. True salvation, then, is inseparable from God's righteousness being revealed.
This passage follows prophecies of comfort and restoration for Israel. Isaiah is now calling the people to prepare themselves for the coming salvation and revealed righteousness by living justly and righteously, indicating that their actions are directly linked to their participation in God's promised deliverance. This sets the stage for the inclusion of foreigners and eunuchs into God's people, emphasizing that true worship involves both justice and inward devotion.
God's word doesn't just speak of grand acts of salvation; it also demands a specific way of living. What does it mean to 'keep justice and do righteousness'?
The Lord begins with a direct command: 'Keep justice, and do righteousness.' These aren't just abstract ideals; they are concrete actions rooted in His character and His law.
What is Justice?
Justice here speaks to fairness, equity, and upholding what is right in our dealings with others. It's about ensuring that every person is treated with dignity and that wrongs are set right.
What is Righteousness?
Righteousness goes a step further, encompassing a life lived in conformity to God's will and His standards. It's not just about outward actions, but an inner disposition of obedience and devotion to God. As some commentators note, it's about practicing righteousness and living according to God's law.
These commands aren't presented as a way to earn salvation, but as a response to God's character and His imminent action.
Why does God link His commands for justice and righteousness with the promise of His coming salvation?
The powerful motivation for living justly and righteously is the assurance that 'my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness be revealed.' This isn't a distant, uncertain hope, but something imminent.
A Near, Revealed Salvation
The prophets often spoke of future events as if they were present realities to emphasize their certainty and to stir the hearts of the listeners. This 'salvation' has a dual fulfillment:
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the covenant God made with Israel, which includes His moral law, His redemptive purposes, and His faithful commitment to His people. It is a binding agreement where God promises blessings for obedience and warns of consequences for disobedience.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
Living in conformity to God’s standard, character, and will; it involves right standing before God and right living toward others. In an evangelical context, it is grounded in God's nature and often results from a relationship with Him.
yeshu'ah · Hebrew Noun
God’s act of rescuing His people from judgment, oppression, or spiritual death. It is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who delivers humanity from the penalty and power of sin.
This prophecy comes at a pivotal moment, as the exiles yearn for return and restoration. The call to justice and righteousness serves as a crucial reminder that their physical deliverance is tied to their moral and spiritual faithfulness, anticipating not only their return but also the ultimate salvation and vindication through the Messiah.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is not captured, the event highlights the precariousness of Judah's political situation and the need for divine intervention and faithfulness.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon begins its conquest of Judah, leading to the first wave of exiles, including prominent figures, being taken to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population. The exile becomes a profound national and spiritual crisis.
c. 540-539 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great and Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon. His policy of allowing deported peoples to return to their homelands offers a glimmer of hope for the exiles.
This passage echoes Isaiah's call for justice and righteousness, showing that these ethical actions are fundamental to God's requirements for His people.
Matthew 3:2John the Baptist's proclamation, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' directly parallels Isaiah's message that obedience is necessary because God's salvation is near.
Romans 13:11-12Paul urges believers to live righteously because their salvation is nearer than when they first believed, directly referencing the urgency found in Isaiah's prophecy.
James 5:8-9This passage also speaks of the nearness of the Lord's coming and encourages patience and perseverance in righteousness, reflecting the expectant hope presented in Isaiah 56:1.
wesleyIsaiah 56:1: "Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed."
56:1 My salvation - That eminent salvation by the Messiah, and in which, without this you shall have no share. Is near - So the scripture often speaks of things which are at a great distance, as if they were present or at hand, Hab 2:3 James 5:8,9 Rev 22:20. My righteousness - The same thing which he called salvation.
cambridgeIsaiah 56:1: "Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed."
1, 2 . The exhortation to righteousness is based on the nearness of Jehovah’s salvation (cf. Isaiah 46:13 , Isaiah 55:6 ). justice should be righteousness (as in R.V.), the same word as in the last line of the verse, but in a different sense. In the first case righteousness means conformity to the law of God (cf. Isaiah 58:2 ), in the second it is, as ofte…
The verse links "salvation" and "righteousness" as if they are almost the same thing. This suggests that God's saving act isn't just rescue, but also the full unveiling of His just character and faithfulness to His promises. True salvation, then, is inseparable from God's righteousness being revealed.
This passage follows prophecies of comfort and restoration for Israel. Isaiah is now calling the people to prepare themselves for the coming salvation and revealed righteousness by living justly and righteously, indicating that their actions are directly linked to their participation in God's promised deliverance. This sets the stage for the inclusion of foreigners and eunuchs into God's people, emphasizing that true worship involves both justice and inward devotion.
This passage follows prophecies of comfort and restoration for Israel. Isaiah is now calling the people to prepare themselves for the coming salvation and revealed righteousness by living justly and righteously, indicating that their actions are directly linked to their participation in God's promised deliverance. This sets the stage for the inclusion of foreigners and eunuchs into God's people, emphasizing that true worship involves both justice and inward devotion.
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This near salvation isn't just a reward for obedience, but the very source from which righteous living flows. It prepares people to receive God's blessing and to live in alignment with His revealed character.
c. 539 BC— this verse
Exhortation to Justice and Righteousness
Amidst the hope of return from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the prophet (traditionally Isaiah, though scholars debate the authorship of these chapters) calls the people to live justly and righteously, emphasizing that God's salvation and vindication are imminent.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
Cyrus issues his decree, allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
c. 516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem is completed, a significant milestone in the post-exilic restoration, though it falls short of the glorious predictions associated with the First Temple.
"Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed." — The verse links "salvation" and "righteousness" as if they are almost the same thing. This suggests that God's saving act isn't just rescue, but also the full unveiling of His just character and fait…
