Here in Japan, when people go to a shrine, they’ll often go up to a bell, give a small offering (and we’re talking small — maybe 5-10 cents or so), clap their hands twice, and pray to the god of the shrine.
The idea of the bell and the clapping is apparently to get the god’s attention while they are praying.
At first glance, it seems that God is saying the same kind of thing here when he talks about the blowing of the trumpets.
He says in verse 9,
“When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets.
Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9)
But God isn’t someone who is sleeping and needs to be woken up. He’s not a God that needs to be reminded that we’re here and need his help.
What I think he’s telling us is that even when things are going badly, even when times are tough, even when it seems we are being attacked on all sides, and God seems a million miles away, that he has not forgotten us.
And we just call out to him, he will answer, and he will help.
It’s easy for us to remember God in the bad times. But he also tells us that we are to remember him in the good times too.
He says in verse 10,
“Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God.
I am the LORD your God.”
Are you going through tough times right now? Does it seem like all your prayers are bouncing off the wall?
Know that God hasn’t forgotten you.
Call out to him and know that he will hear and he will help.
Are you going through good times now?
Don’t forget God. Remember to thank him for his goodness.
Take the time to write down the good things he’s doing in your life, so that when the bad times come, (and they will come), you won’t forget his love and faithfulness towards you.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 