God calls His people to demonstrate active righteousness today, assured that His deliverance and justice will soon unfold.
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.’ (Isaiah 56:1). The prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah around 740-686 BC, conveys a divine imperative urging the faithful to uphold justice. This emphasis on doing what is right carries a prophetic sense of urgency: God is about to intervene in history with His divine rescue plan, weaving together the call to moral living with the promise of coming deliverance. The call to “preserve justice” underscores the importance of active righteousness—an expectation that extends beyond mere internal belief. Later New Testament teachings echo this theme, such as when Jesus exhorts His followers to live righteously so that others might see their good works (Matthew 5:16).
Isaiah’s context reveals that the prophet delivered God’s message during a turbulent time in Judah’s history. Political uncertainty and foreign threats from powerful empires, like Assyria, destabilized the region. Despite these pressures, Isaiah speaks with prophetic confidence that God’s salvation draws near. By linking the command to “do righteousness” with the promise that God’s “righteousness” is soon to be unveiled, the verse creates a tension between present obedience and a future hope. In other words, it offers comfort that God’s purpose for His people is not only to survive but also to flourish under His righteous reign once it is fully revealed.
For the believer, “Preserve justice and do righteousness” (v. 1) continues to resonate today, connecting naturally to the New Testament call for Christ-followers to reflect God’s character as people redeemed by grace (Ephesians 4:24). The immediate imperative is paired with an anticipation of God’s salvific work, teaching that faith in God’s promise should inspire a lifestyle consistent with His holy standard. This verse points us toward a vigilant, hope-filled obedience—knowing that God’s righteousness will be manifest in due time, just as Christ ultimately fulfilled the hope of salvation.
Set to dark mode
Isaiah 56:1 meaning
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.’ (Isaiah 56:1). The prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah around 740-686 BC, conveys a divine imperative urging the faithful to uphold justice. This emphasis on doing what is right carries a prophetic sense of urgency: God is about to intervene in history with His divine rescue plan, weaving together the call to moral living with the promise of coming deliverance. The call to “preserve justice” underscores the importance of active righteousness—an expectation that extends beyond mere internal belief. Later New Testament teachings echo this theme, such as when Jesus exhorts His followers to live righteously so that others might see their good works (Matthew 5:16).
Isaiah’s context reveals that the prophet delivered God’s message during a turbulent time in Judah’s history. Political uncertainty and foreign threats from powerful empires, like Assyria, destabilized the region. Despite these pressures, Isaiah speaks with prophetic confidence that God’s salvation draws near. By linking the command to “do righteousness” with the promise that God’s “righteousness” is soon to be unveiled, the verse creates a tension between present obedience and a future hope. In other words, it offers comfort that God’s purpose for His people is not only to survive but also to flourish under His righteous reign once it is fully revealed.
For the believer, “Preserve justice and do righteousness” (v. 1) continues to resonate today, connecting naturally to the New Testament call for Christ-followers to reflect God’s character as people redeemed by grace (Ephesians 4:24). The immediate imperative is paired with an anticipation of God’s salvific work, teaching that faith in God’s promise should inspire a lifestyle consistent with His holy standard. This verse points us toward a vigilant, hope-filled obedience—knowing that God’s righteousness will be manifest in due time, just as Christ ultimately fulfilled the hope of salvation.