Waters are come in unto My soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing … the floods overflow Me” Psalm 69:1, 2 KJV

For the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold … a flood overflows me.  Psalm 69:1,2 NASB

The words of Psalm 69 give us a description of the anguish of the soul of our Savior while on the cross. In the imagery of a mighty flood, a cataract or judgment, He is seen as sinking, finding no place to stand, and feeling the surge of the flood waters rising against Him.

Think of the contrasts that the various scenes provide. The Lord Jesus is the mighty Jehovah Who parted the Red Sea and allowed the children of Israel to walk on “dry” land as they crossed. Yet the One Who dried up the Red Sea and made the seabed a pavement for their feet could find no place of standing. He sank in the deep mire. The waters crushed Him downward as though sinking beneath the weight of the judgment He endured.

During the days of His flesh, the Lord Jesus stilled the storm (Matt 8:24). Matthew tells us it was a tempest, and the waves were covering the ship. The fiat of the Lord, “Peace, be till,” calmed the wind and the waves. Peace ensued immediately. The wind ceased howling, and the water and waves returned to a sea of glass. Yet at Calvary, the “tempest’s awful voice was heard,” and He did not say, “Peace be still.” The waves threatened the boat and were stilled by His command; at Calvary, wave after wave of judgment passed over Him, and no command was uttered; no command to cease and desist came from His lips. He endured it all.

On another occasion, He came to them during a storm. On this occasion, they were in the boat amidst the storm, and He came walking on the waves to them. He did not sink beneath the waves but used those waves as His highway to the disciples. In contrast, in the words of Psalm 69, “I sink .. the water floods overflow Me.” He that suspended the law of gravity on the Galilean Lake allowed Himself to sink beneath the waves of divine judgment for our redemption.

Well can we sing the last verse of that hymn

Consider:

Think of other occasions when the Lord was linked with water and some of the contrasts to His sufferings. For example, water was turned into wine. The waters at Calvary meant sorrow for Him but joy for us.