12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? – Is this not sarcasm. It is a ridiculous suggestion!
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” – there is an inbuilt ‘if’ here. If you are thankful and obedient then I will listen!
16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? – ‘I really don’t mean much to you’, God says.
17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. – It is because of these things etc that I won’t accept your sacrifices as sincere!
22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! – and here is My Judgement!
23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” – ‘and here are My requirements of you – (the right attitude and action!) And what I show you, obey!’
Isaiah 41: 14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. – God promises to help even the men whose character makes you think of ‘maggots’, if they will ‘hold His hand’!
Prayer: Thank You, Father God, for Your proffered forgiveness in our Redeemer – Jesus!
As I read it! 