(Verse 22) - ''Now" is a word of urgency and entreaty. It speaks of the desire of God to see even these wicked ones turn from sin and embrace righteousness. It says nothing of whether they actually will respond, or even whether God will take any further steps to bring them to repentance.  It also says nothing that indicates that either of those things will not occur either. The best we can say is that God desires them to consider His words and that this speaks of real desire on His part for them to do that which He commands.

I think we could also imply a willingness, even an intent on His part to act to bring about their obedience. There are those who would argue that for God to command obedience and express a desire for the wicked to come to repentance would be deceptive if such a desire were not really there. In this instance, I am forced to agree with them. There is a real desire here for the repentance of the hearers.

''Consider this" is an appeal to reasonableness. It is actually an appeal for them to give proper attention to the proclamation made. In light of the earlier charge that they failed to consider these things but tossed them aside as irrelevant, this plea makes good sense. The first necessary thing for anyone to be corrected by God is for them to give time and attention to the claims of God upon their lives. Nothing can occur unless this ''consideration" happens.

Note that this is not to imply that people have the ability to heed the words of God in and of themselves. This is not so. It us simply to say that any refusal on their part is a function of their own will and nature and not to be charged to God.

There is also an implied sense of urgency or pleading to what is said here. This is no warning out of mere anger, nor is it a dry informing of the facts. I believe there is an earnest desire on God's part to see these hearers repent. I see no way to make these words mean less than that.

The fact of the matter is that it is a most solemn issue that is deserving of their most solemn and earnest attention. That they cannot or will not see that makes it no less so. The seriousness of the matter is unaffected by the way the individuals in question treat it. It is serious because God says it is serious! It is we who must adapt our view and understanding of the matter; not God.

''Ye that forget God" is the real crux of the matter. Even though they were engaged in ongoing acts of worship and piety - the had, in reality, forgotten God! First of all, we need to see that it is entirely possible to be thoroughly and consistently involved in religious matters and yet to forget God. '' Forgetting" here would refer to the failing to truly service and worship Him. It is more than a little ironic that while they were diligently remembering the sacrifices that everyone else could see; they had forgotten to actually worship the God they were ostensibly offering sacrifice to!

How could this happen? We will not take time to list a bunch of reasons. We will look only at two. They were more concerned with the experience of religion than they were in actually interacting with God. Any time we are more concerned with the trappings of religion than we are with keeping it real before Him, we will always ''forget" what is truly significant. Secondly, they were totally unconcerned with the revelation God had given them and, as a result, they were unprepared to remember properly.

What had they forgotten? Personally, these people had actually forgotten nothing. It is as a nation, as a people that they had forgotten God. Historically, Israel had quite an heritage. They had been blessed and used by God mightily. They knew more, as a people, than any other ethnic people ever, in the history of God's dealings with men. They had forgotten all that God had done and all that He had promised. That is a lot to forget!

The image here is, of course, taken from nature. It is the picture of the ferocious, ravening beast that tears its prey horribly to pieces. How is this an appropriate image of God? What should this image say to us and what response should it engender?

God has already been portrayed as the Almighty; here that portrayal is continued. If God, the Almighty, rises rises up against then, who will they turn to for deliverance? When the great and merciful Mediator, the Redeemer, sets Himself against one, who is left that might take one's side? 

This principle speaks to our country's condition today in spades!  we profess to be a religious country, and country that cares about God and about our fellow man.  Yet, we have cut ourselves off from that God and from His Word, the only means by which we can know God.  This will inevitably bring to us the chastening and judgment of God.  We cannot escape it!  If God rise up against us- what hope is there of deliverance?