Can you see how he is setting the stage here? He is beginning to say, "Prepare yourself, before the decree to conquer goes forth from God, before the day passes like chaff—the destruction is just blown away."
Again, if we were going to look at this in the light of the larger context in chapter one, God prophesies judgment; only not just on Assyria, but this time it is judgment on the whole world. With this thought in mind, chapter two opens with an appeal to God's people to gather together. This is not merely an appeal to congregate—that may indeed be implied. But, that is not the main thrust of the advice that is given here. Rather, it is to gather one's thoughts, to meditate, pull things together in your mind, think about their consequences on this nation, think about their consequences on you personally, think about their consequences on your loved ones. He wants us to consider these things as the first step toward repentance, and so he says "Change direction, turn to righteousness and perhaps you will be hidden during His anger."
