They Wouldn't Bow

Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Dan 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Because Neb's dream indicated that his kingdom was identified by the head of gold, he made a statement by building a 90 foot statue of gold, 9 feet wide. Talk about your basic ego problem! The Head of Gold Went to His Head.

I find it numerologically interesting that Goliath stood 9'9" tall. The number nine, in the Bible deals with judgment or the finality of things. Basically, it's used when judging man and all of his works. (The 'United States Supreme Court' comes to mind when I think about this number.)

Additionally, this number has also been used to describe the perfect movement of God.

I have to guess that the image must have been gold plated, rather than solid gold. Even at that, the gold needed for this project could finance a third-world nation! What an extravagance.

Monuments to men are many and varied, but God's people, just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of old, are still obliged to worship only at the feet of Jesus.

One day soon another image will be erected in the likeness of the beast, fashioned by the false prophet. Once again, all will be forced to do obeisance. But believers will stand nonplussed in defiance to the idolatrous order. Instead of a fiery furnace, the guillotine will be in place for their punishment. So be it! You can't threaten God's people with heaven. May God give them grace to do what is right. AND, may God give us wisdom to identify idolatry today and the grace to not participate in it.

The 3 Hebrew children, in response to Neb's threat said without hesitation, "We don't even have to think about it, we will not participate!"

May God increase their tribe.