15. How can the day of death be better than the day of birth?

¹⁵ Consider another reason why the prospect of dying held no terrors for Daniel. God’s Word says: “A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1) How could the day of death, a mournful time if ever there was one, be better than the joyful day of birth? The key is in the “name.” “Good oil” could be enormously costly. Lazarus’ sister Mary once greased Jesus’ feet with perfumed oil that cost nearly a year’s wages! (John 12:1-7) How could a mere name be so precious? At Ecclesiastes 7:1, the Greek Septuagint says, “a good name.” It is not merely the name but what it stands for that is so valuable. At his birth, there is no reputation, no record of fine works, no treasured memory of the name bearer’s personality and qualities. But at life’s end, the name signifies all these things. And if it is a good name from God’s standpoint, it is far more precious than any material possessions could ever be.

15. How can the day of death be better than the day of birth?

¹⁵ Consider another reason why the prospect of dying held no terrors for Daniel. God’s Word says: “A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1) How could the day of death, a mournful time if ever there was one, be better than the joyful day of birth? The key is in the “name.” “Good oil” could be enormously costly. Lazarus’ sister Mary once greased Jesus’ feet with perfumed oil that cost nearly a year’s wages! (John 12:1-7) How could a mere name be so precious? At Ecclesiastes 7:1, the Greek Septuagint says, “a good name.” It is not merely the name but what it stands for that is so valuable. At his birth, there is no reputation, no record of fine works, no treasured memory of the name bearer’s personality and qualities. But at life’s end, the name signifies all these things. And if it is a good name from God’s standpoint, it is far more precious than any material possessions could ever be.

16. (a) How did Daniel endeavor to make a good name with God? (b) Why could Daniel go to rest with full confidence that he had succeeded in making a good name with Jehovah?

¹⁶ Throughout his life, Daniel did everything in his power to make a good name with God, and Jehovah overlooked none of this. He watched Daniel and examined his heart. God had done as much for King David, who sang: “O Jehovah, you have searched through me, and you know me. You yourself have come to know my sitting down and my rising up. You have considered my thought from far off.” (Psalm 139:1, 2) Granted, Daniel was not perfect. He was a descendant of the sinner Adam and was a member of a sinful nation. (Romans 3:23) But Daniel repented of his sinfulness and kept trying to walk with his God in an upright way. The faithful prophet could therefore be confident that Jehovah would forgive his sins and would never hold them against him. (Psalm 103:10-14; Isaiah 1:18) Jehovah chooses to remember the good works of his faithful servants. (Hebrews 6:10) Thus, Jehovah’s angel twice called Daniel a “very desirable man.” (Daniel 10:11, 19) This meant that Daniel was beloved of God. Daniel could go to rest satisfied, knowing that he had made a good name with Jehovah.

17. Why is it urgent that we make a good name with Jehovah today?

¹⁷ Each of us may well ask, ‘Have I made a good name with Jehovah?’ We live in troubled times. It is not morbid but simply realistic to recognize that death may overtake any of us at any time. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) How vital it is, then, that each of us resolves to make a good name with God right now, without delay. If we do so, we need not fear death. It is a mere rest—like sleep. And like sleep, it is followed by an awakening!