Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

We are not sure who wrote this Psalm but it is possible that it was written in the days of Hezekiah the King of Judah. The prophet Isaiah was prophesying judgment on the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the invading Assyrian army and it wasn’t looking good for the Southern Kingdom of Judah as the Assyrians were threatening them also. The chapter begins with the psalmist remembering the stories of his...

What an interesting Psalm that seems to fit what has happened to our dear country today!  We believe that this Psalm was written in the days of Hezekiah who was the king of Judah. Isaiah was prophesying that judgment was coming to the nation of Israel by way of the Assyrian armies just north of them. The unknown writer of this Psalm begins by remembering what their fathers had told them about the...

One of the things that I have enjoyed about these chats on the Book of Psalms is taking the time to research the history or background to each Psalm. In all the years that I’ve read and memorized the Psalms, I never took the time to do look at this aspect of the Psalms.  Today we begin looking at a new Psalm. Interestingly, when it comes to Psalm 44, scholars do not agree as to when this psalm was...

You might notice in your Bible that Psalm 43 has no title over it.  We believe that this is because Psalm 43 is a continuation of Psalm 42. Originally, they were one Psalm but the editors who compiled the Psalms, for whatever reason, divided them into two chapters. When you read them together it is obvious that they definitely go together with the same theme of the writer in exile longing to go ba...

As you read Psalms 42 and 43 you can’t help but feel the despair of the writer. At least three times in these two Psalms he asked the question, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, why are you disquieted with me”? (vv. 42:5, 11; 43:5) And he begins this section of verses with the statement, “My soul is cast down within me” (42:6). He feels like God has forgotten him (v. 9). He is hearing the enemies...

We are not entirely sure who was the writer of Psalms 42-43. From the context though, it is possible that the unnamed writer was a Levite who had been exiled among Gentiles (43:1).  The text of these two Psalms reveal that these Gentiles oppressed him and questioned his faith (42:3, 10; 43:2). We also learn from the text that this exiled Levite was a worship leader who had led groups of pilgrims t...

Yesterday we mentioned how the Book of Psalms was divided into five books. Today we begin our study in the second book which covers Psalm 42 to 72. Many commentators believe that the division into five books represents the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. Psalms 1-41 could be compared to Genesis which begins with creation of man in a state of blessedness. But immediately we see his s...

The division of the Book of Psalms into five books is: Book 1: Psalms 1—41; Book 2: Psalms 42—72; Book 3: Psalms 73—89; Book 4: Psalms 90—106; Book 5: Psalms 107—150.  We must always remember that God is the author of the entire Bible!  Every verse in every book is inspired by God, the very breath of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness...

As we close our meditations on Psalm 41, we need to remember that  David is writing Psalm 41 during a very difficult time in his life. They were born out of his time of dealing with the rebellion of his son Absalom, and the betrayal of his counselor and friend Ahithophel. David was prompted by these circumstances to take spiritual inventory and basically ask himself four questions. All four of the...

Remember David is writing Psalm 41 during a very difficult time in his life. It is the last of the four Psalms that close out Book One in the book of Psalms that were born out of his time of dealing with the rebellion of his son Absalom, and the betrayal of his counselor and friend Ahithophel. David was prompted by these circumstances to take spiritual inventory and basically ask himself four ques...

In today’s video chat you might notice the white paper taped on my desk behind me.  My granddaughter Abigail has been in my office and posted a note: “I love you so so so so so so so so so so so so much Paw Paw, Abigail Grooms - Can you find three hearts near your desk?”  Well, I found two.  I will have to ask her later today where is the third one!  How sweet is that? She and her sister Alyssa ar...

It is a great feeling to be back in my home office in Sneads Ferry North Carolina again after a brief and wonderful trip to the Holy Land.  We had an awesome time with the students and the parents from Virginia learning together more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we walked where He walked. Thanks again for your prayers and support as we traveled and for your patience as we obviously ha...

Believe it or not, I’m on my way to Israel again. By the time you are probably reading this blog or watching this Pastor’s Chat, I will be on a plane somewhere between here and Israel. I’m meeting my son Jonathan and a group of students and parents in Jerusalem for a three-day tour.  We will have a walking tour of Jerusalem, visiting all the major sites that we can get to on Wednesday and Thursday...

"Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!"  But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.” What a wonderful Psalm to reflect and meditate on as often as we can. I find that it relates to us in so many ways.  In the first five verses...

In the first five verses of this Psalm, David gives us a beautiful example of why and how we should praise the LORD for all that He has done for us. The LORD lifts us up out of the horrible pit and miry clay and sets our feet on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ! When this happens, we have a new song to sing in praise and worship of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now in verses 6-10, Davi...

"I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD." Psalm 40 has been a favorite Psalm for so many of us over the years because we can relate to...

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God;" There is no doubt that Psalm 40 was written by David, but when he wrote it is another matter. Some place its composition during his outlaw years whe...

In Psalm 39 David doesn't seem to be gravely ill, but he has been visited by some "stroke" from the Lord because of his sins (vv. 9-11). Also, the old problem of the prosperity of the wicked is in the picture (v. 1). It appears that the wicked ("the foolish" v. 8) were blaspheming God and maligning David in his affliction, and the king was greatly concerned lest he bring reproach on the name of th...

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You." In this Psalm we find David somewhat despondent. He was dealing with the consequences of some sin in his life. Some commentators think maybe he had a stroke of some sort. He speaks of it in verses 9-11; “…Because it was You who did it. Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. When with rebukes You correct man for in...

"LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am." In the previous Psalm, David had been dealing with the terrible consequences of his sins. He had confessed them and found God’s forgiveness. But he is still down and needs support from those around him. Yet it seems according to Psalm 39, that instead of words of encouragement from his friends and a...

"My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:” Did you ever fail, make a mess of things, and suffer the consequences of your sin or sins in a way that everyone is able to notice? You were hoping that your family and friends would be praying for you and helping you get back up spiritually, but you begin to hear that instead they are talking behind yo...

Today we are going to pick up from where we left off in Psalms before we went to the Holy Land. We were looking at Psalm 38, which is one of the Penitential Psalms. David is sorry for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the scheme and murder he committed to try and cover it up. In verses 1-8, he focuses on himself and describes the painful consequences of sin that he is experiencing. His suffer...

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces." For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you." Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. Welcome back to Pastor’s Chat! Thank you so much for your patience these past two weeks while we were away on tour to the Holy...

This morning I am on a non-stop flight to Amman Jordan! I prerecorded our chat for today so that I would be able to post them before I leave. Thank you for your prayers as we lead this wonderful group of people on a spiritual journey these next 14 days to get more acquainted with the Lord and His Word! Psalm 38 is indeed a very interesting Psalm as David is writing out of an anguished heart that i...

This morning I am on my way to Dulles Airport to catch our flight to the Holy Land! I prerecorded our chat for today and tomorrow so that I would be able to post them before I leave. Thank you for your prayers as we lead this wonderful group of people on a spiritual journey these next 14 days to get more acquainted with the Lord and His Word! King David is writing Psalm 38 out of an anguished hear...