Isaiah 56:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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 following verses. Accordingly, it might with propriety have been rendered, practise righteousness. For my salvation is near to come That eminent salvation by the Messiah, so largely promised and insisted upon in the foregoing Chapter s. The Scriptures, it must be observed, often speak of things that are at a great distance as if they were present or at hand, Habakkuk 2:3; James 5:8-9; Revelation 22:20. And my righteousness to be revealed What in the former clause he called salvation, he here calls righteousness, as being an evident demonstration of God's righteousness, both in the fulfilment of his promises, and in the punishment of sin, as also in the salvation of sinners, upon just and honourable terms.