Seder 134: The Messianic Message of Psalm 60:6-8

 Psalm 60 includes an oracle from God in response to the prayers of his people, a vivid statement of his sovereignty over the nations:

"With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter; Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph."

The superscription of Psalm 60 indicates a specific context for Psalm 60 during a time when King David was working to secure Israel's borders and respond to threats from its neighbors.  But God's declaration in verses 6-8 involves much more.  

First, the statement that "Judah is my scepter" reaffirms the messianic prophecy of Genesis 49:10, implying that God would continue to work through David and his line (as in 2 Sam 7:13-16).  

Second, Psalm 60:4-8 connects with Isaiah 11:12-14, part of another important messianic prophecy.  Note that both of these passages make reference to  

• God setting up a banner;
• God working through both Ephraim and Judah;
• the subjugation of Edom, Moab, and the Philistines.

Third, these verses are repeated in Psalm 108, which places the oracle in a messianic context.  

Not surprisingly, the midrash on Psalm 60 sees these verses messianically and makes the connection with Isaiah 11.  It views verse 7 as pointing to both Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David.