Isaiah 57:1
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.

Carrying on the rebuke of Judah's leaders from the previous chapter, the LORD speaks to the persecution of the righteous. Though the righteous were ignored and persecuted by the wicked leaders of Judah, God would not forsake them. When they perished, when merciful men were taken away, God used it to bless the righteous, to take them away from evil and to allow them to enter into peace.

The godly found rest and peace, and the ungodly went into captivity, and some of them were killed. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

Application

In your prayer time, remember the people who were persecuted and were killed because of righteousness.