I’ve been pondering Psalm 56 for the past couple weeks, and I was struck today by how the language of 56:9/8 makes me think of Cain’s story — particularly, the provision and protection God provided Cain.

In Genesis 4, after Cain kills Abel, God steps toward him with questions and judgment, but his judgment was not without provision. Cain’s choice was worse than Adam and Eve’s, and so was his judgment. The ground was cursed “because of Adam” (Gen 3:17), but Cain himself is cursed “from the ground” (Gen 4:12). Cain is destined to be a “fugitive and a wanderer” (נָע וָנָד, Gen 4:12, 14). It’s that word “wanderer” (נוד) that causes Cain’s story to echo in my mind when reading Psalm 56. But before we turn back to Psalm 56, it’s important to note that in Genesis 4, in the moment when Cain despairs that his wandering will lead some enemy to commit violence against him, God draws near with protection and provision. God gives him a mysterious sign that will keep others from attacking him (Gen 4:15).

The psalmist hopes for a similar provision. In Psalm 56:9, he describes his resolution and hope in ways that recall Cain. The psalmist recounts the way his enemies plot and lurk in wait for him, and he says, “You have taken note of my wandering” (נֹדִי סָפַרְתָּה אָתָּה, Psa 56:9). The word used to describe how he’s driven by his persecutors, tossings (ESV, NRSVue) or wandering, is from the same root (נוד) as Cain’s description as a “wanderer.” Furthermore, just as Cain seems to be in distress when he says, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!” (Gen 4:13), the psalmist says, “Place my tears in your bottle! Do you not have them on record?”

It is striking to hear Cain’s consolation in this psalm. I can’t think of another time when a biblical passage has caused me to hear such echoes. Biblical statements that speak about someone being driven away might recall how Cain was driven away (גרשׁ), but when is Cain’s consolation ever recalled? Who knows if it’s intended in Psalm 56, but the language is there, and I at least hear an echo.