Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Tuesday March 10 2026
More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com. To Receive
Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) or markatabata@gmail.com (Email). Follow me on Substack: substack.com/@marktabata. Also please visit my author page: amazon.com/author/marktabata
Psalm 135:18-Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.
Have you ever noticed that people have a tendency to become like what they admire?
The Prophet Hosea discussed this:
Hosea 9:10 (ERV)-At the time I, the Lord, found Israel, they were like fresh grapes in the desert. They were like the first figs on a fig tree at the beginning of the season. But when they came to Baal Peor, they changed. So I had to cut them off like rotten fruit. They became like the terrible things that they loved.
The people of Israel were worshiping Baal, one of the most terrible gods known to humanity. God sent the Prophet to rebuke and correct them, especially because the people of Israel had become “Ike the terrible things that they loved.”
Hubbard explains:
“It shook the structure of the covenant to its very foundations and for a reason that Hosea explains: the character of the one whom we worship rubs off on us. The abominable imposter who purported to love Israel (the Heb. verb form for love is active not passive; thus, as Andersen has noted [p. 536], it is the Baal’s love for them not theirs for Baal that is featured) has infected them with his detestable qualities (for the Heb. word siqqûṣ , cf. Jer. 4:1; 7:30; 13:27; 32:34; Ezek. 5:11; 7:20; 11:21; 20:30; 37:23). The Hebrew language is hard-pressed to come up with a more degrading term to describe the depths to which Israel’s initial and continued contact with Baal had lowered them.” (David Allan Hubbard, TOTC Hosea (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries), 2708-2713 (Kindle Edition); Nottingham, England; Inter-Varsity Press)
Our lives will show what our heart loves.
Father, may our heart and life reflect a steadfast and ever increasing love for You. Amen.