Psalm 4/Notes/Summary.v. 5.421450

For those who are attracted and want to respond to the invitation, David provides the next steps: “Tremble and do not sin” — tremble in fear, acknowledging God for who he is, as the all-powerful king of the earth, and stop sinning: stop living in rebellion to his rule.

“Think to yourselves on your beds and be silent!” The psalmist corrects the common pagan practice of wailing to attract their gods’ attention, as the prophets of Baal did on Mt Carmel, and instead he instructs people on how to get YHWH’s attention. They are not to engage in a purely public display of their devotion but, on their bed, meaning in private, they are to come before YHWH and engage with him directly.