Shushan Eduth (lit. 'lily of the testimony') appears in the superscription of Psalms 60 and 80. It is widely understood as a musical direction — either indicating a melody to which the psalm was to be sung (named 'The Lily of the Testimony') or a type of musical instrument associated with the word for 'lily' (shoshanah). The 'testimony' (eduth) component may refer to the Ark of the Covenant or the Decalogue.
The Psalter superscriptions, though sometimes obscure, preserve ancient worship traditions of Israel. Shushan Eduth appears over two psalms of communal lament and petition for national restoration — Psalms 60 (after military defeat) and 80 (lamenting the suffering of the northern tribes). The 'lily' imagery may evoke Song of Songs' beloved, Israel as God's lily among thorns (Song 2:1-2). 'The Lily of the Testimony' as a worship melody reminds us that even in Israel's darkest hours, their laments were offered as testimony — declarations of faith in God's covenant faithfulness.