What idols might we unknowingly "carry" like "Sakkuth" and "Kiyyun" in Amos 5:26? Setting the Scene in Amos 5:26 “‘You have lifted up Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god—the idols you made for yourselves—’ ” (Amos 5:26). Israel actually transported small images of these Assyro-Babylonian gods during wilderness festivals, treating them like lucky charms while still offering formal sacrifices to the LORD. The prophet exposes the contradiction: outward worship of Yahweh, inward allegiance to rival deities. Why Israel’s Hidden Idolatry Speaks to Us • Idols can ride along in our lives undetected. • They thrive under the cover of religious activity. • God sees the heart: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Modern Idols We Might Carry • Status & Success – Pursuing titles, résumé lines, and social clout as ultimate goals. – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). • Money & Possessions – Measuring worth by bank accounts, gadgets, or square footage. – “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). • Entertainment & Leisure – Streaming, gaming, travel—harmless gifts that morph into controlling masters. – “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to revel” (1 Corinthians 10:7, recalling Exodus 32). • Technology – Phones, apps, and algorithms subtly shaping identity and devotion. – “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). • Romantic Relationships – Expecting a partner to provide meaning only God can give. – “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man” (Psalm 118:8). • Self-Reliance – Exalting personal autonomy over humble dependence on God. – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). • Politics & Ideology – Elevating party, platform, or nation above the kingdom of God. – “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). • Health & Body Image – Obsessive fitness or appearance regimes promising security or worth. – “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8). • Ministry & Religious Performance – Serving, teaching, or leading primarily to be seen or feel significant. – “If I give all I possess to the poor… but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Symptoms of Unseen Idols • Inordinate anxiety when the idol is threatened. • Bitterness toward anyone who blocks access to it. • Secret time and money flowing disproportionately toward it. • Willingness to justify sin to keep it. • Dullness toward Scripture and prayer when it calls the idol out. Returning to Exclusive Worship of the LORD • Identify: Ask, “What do I fear losing most?” (Ezekiel 14:3). • Confess: Agree with God that the rival love is sin (1 John 1:9). • Replace: Set heart on Christ, “who is your life” (Colossians 3:4), and on “things above” (Colossians 3:2). • Practice: Cultivate habits—Sabbath, generosity, fellowship—that dethrone false gods. Hidden idols may not look like Sakkuth’s shrine or Kiyyun’s star, yet they can still ride in our pockets, screens, and ambitions. The call remains: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). |
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