Isaiah 56:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-2

The scope of these verses is to show that when God is coming towards us in a way of mercy we must go forth to meet him in a way of duty. I. God here tells us what are his intentions of mercy to us (Isa. 56:1): My salvation is near to come?the great salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ (for that was the salvation of which the prophets enquired and searched diligently, 1 Pet. 1:10), typified by the salvation of the Jews from Sennacherib or out of Babylon. Observe, 1. The gospel salvation is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:1

Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice ,.... Observe the word of the Lord, which comes from the God of judgment, is the best informer of the judgment, and the only rule of faith and practice; and which should be kept in the heart, mind, and memory, be held fast, and abode by; and so likewise all the ordinances of the Lord, which are his statutes and judgments; these should be all of them kept as they were delivered, in faith, from love, and with a view to the glory of God and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1

Keep ye judgment, and do justice; rather, keep ye Law , and observe righteousness. The exhortation is general, and has no special bearing on trials or law-courts. It is a call on the Jews, in their captivity, to keep, so far as was possible, the whole Law given on Sinai. My salvation is near to come. The nearer the time of deliverance approaches, the more faithful and exact ought Israel to be in life and conduct. God's "salvation" and his "righteousness" go hand-in-hand. It is as his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1

The attitude of holy expectation. God evidently requires of us that, when we are anticipating any special manifestation on his part, there should be special purity on our part. We look at— I. OUR CONDITION . This is one of complete dependence on God. We need the action of the Divine power to give efficacy to all our labour; nothing that we do, of any kind whatever, is effectual without the energizing touch of his hand. We need also the manifestation of this Divine power for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1

God's nearness a plea. "My salvation is near to come;" therefore "keep ye judgment, and do justice." Isaiah announced God's delivering and redeeming from Babylon as close at hand, and used this fact as a plea by which to urge immediate moral preparation. "When God is coming to us in a way of mercy we must go forth to meet him in a way of duty." Illustration may be found in Psalms 50:23 ; Malachi 4:4 6. John the Baptist had a similar commission to this of Isaiah. He was to call to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

AN EXHORTATION TO OBSERVE THE LAW , ESPECIALLY THE LAW OF THE SABBATH , COMBINED WITH PROMISES . There was much of the Law which it was impossible to observe during the Captivity. Sacrifice had ceased, the temple was destroyed, almost all the ceremonial law must have been suspended; even the command to do no work on the sabbath day cannot have been kept by a nation of slaves, whose masters would certainly not have permitted them to be idle one day in seven.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

The true observance of the sabbath. Foreign converts are commended for their observance of the sabbath, and promised an appropriate reward. The day was more strictly observed during the Babylonian and Persian periods ( Jeremiah 17:19-27 ; Ezekiel 20:11-21 ; Ezekiel 22:8 , Ezekiel 22:26 ; Nehemiah 13:15-22 ; cf. 2 Kings 11:11-16 with 1 Macc . 2:32-38). Its estimation rose with the estimation of prayer (Cheyne). I. THE DUTY OF OBEDIENCE . The Law is "the objective... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 56:1

Thus saith the Lord - That is, in view of the fact that the kingdom of God was to come at no distant period. Yahweh states what was necessary to prepare themselves for it, and what was the character which he demanded of those who were disposed to embrace its offers, and who would be admitted to its privileges.Keep ye judgment - Margin, ‘Equity.’ Break off your sins, and be holy. A somewhat similar declaration was made by John the Baptist when he announced the coming of the Messiah: ‘Repent ye,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 56:1

Isaiah 56:1. Thus saith the Lord This verse, and the rest of this chapter, until Isaiah 56:9, seems to belong to the foregoing prophecy. From the consideration of God’s promises there made to the believing Jews and Gentiles, he here urges them to perform their duty to him. Keep ye judgment and do justice This phrase elsewhere generally signifies the duties which one man owes to another; but here it seems rather to signify the duties which men owe to God, as it is explained in the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

56:1-66:24 PRESENT SHAME AND FUTURE GLORYHaving looked beyond the Babylonian captivity to the Jews’ imminent return to their homeland, the prophet now sees the people resettled in and around Jerusalem. What he sees causes him to realize that this is not the golden age after all. Social and religious sins once again become a characteristic of the national life of Israel. The prophet contrasts this corrupt state of affairs with conditions in the ideal Jerusalem of the future.In this section, as... read more

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