Saydee and his family have an “open arms and open home” philosophy. People are always welcome in their home, “especially those who are in distress,” he says. That’s the kind of household he had growing up in Liberia with his nine siblings. Their parents always welcomed others into their family. He says, “We grew up as a community. We loved one another. Everybody was responsible for everybody. My dad taught us to love each other, care for each other, protect each other.”
When King David was in need, he found this type of loving care in God. Second Samuel 22 (and Psalm 18) records his song of praise to God for the ways He had been a refuge for him throughout his life. He recalled, “In my distress I called to the
While our distresses may be small in comparison to David’s, God welcomes us to run to Him to find the shelter we long for. His arms are always open. Therefore we “sing the praises of [His] name” (v. 50).
God, I’m grateful You’ve always been and will always be my secure place to land.
INSIGHT
Second Samuel 22 is nearly identical to Psalm 18. This psalm celebrates David’s deliverance and military victories, giving God all the credit, and may also have been used more generally to celebrate other military victories. Psalm 18 is one of a group of psalms often labeled “royal psalms” (others include Psalms 2; 20; 21; 45; 72; 89; 101; 110; 132), each of which draws a connection between an earthly king’s reign and God’s own reign over the universe.