Deep waters

Psalm 69 is the first Messianic Psalm I remember noticing. I think an older brother quoted it in prayer during the Lord's Supper one morning when I was in high school. At any rate, I think of Psalm 69 and Psalm 102 as the iconic Messianic Psalms. To be fair, I tend to see almost all the Psalms as Messianic in at least some sense, but that's a whole different topic.

The Psalm is addressed to the Chief Musician, which is generally a good indication that it's Messianic. I haven't found an exception to that rule yet. 

The opening plea is for God to save, because "the waters have come in unto my soul" (Psalm 69:1–3).

At the risk of sounding glib, it seems to me that there is a commentary on these verses in Song of Solomon:

Many waters cannot quench love, Neither do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned. (Song of Solomon 8:7)

There is something profound in the statement that everything a man has is worthless in exchange for love. It took me a long time to realize what that verse is actually saying is, "give everything you own for love, it's still not enough."  

So when the Son of God gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:19–21), we understand that He measured up to this statement. It was Himself He gave, as opposed to anything He possessed.

But of course the connection between Psalm 69:1ff and Song of Solomon 8:7 lies in the "many waters." In Psalm 69, they are a threat that overwhelms, destroys, and eventually kills. But in Song of Solomon, we're assured they're not enough to quench love.

 The Lord loved us and gave Himself for us. That's an astonishing thing to remember. And it bears remembering that He thinks it was a good deal. Imagine that! Isaiah 53:11 tells us that God will look at the result of His giving Himself for us and "be satisfied."