Ecclesiastes 1:13

"And. set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is. grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with."set my mind" -This will be no half-hearted attempt. Solomon is determined, he has mentally prepared himself.

"to seek and explore" -to seek with care, to explore with careful examination. Solomon isn't going to leave. stone unturned. This will be. thorough study, an in depth investigation. "Explore"-"to explore the subject on all sides" (Leupold p. 52).

"by wisdom" -Solomon isn't naïve or stupid. He is shrewd and clever, he is attempting to find the ideal balance between such things as pleasure and self-control. He realizes like many sharp people today that too much pleasure can spoil finding pleasure in this life. Like so many famous people today he is attempting to find the ideal amount. He wants to avoid the pitfalls of becoming an alcoholic, drug addict, or individual with. sexually transmitted disease. Solomon is Mr. Black Tie,. James Bond type of individual, in which anything which is done, is done right. Down to the smallest detail, everything from buildings, furnishings, the presentation of. meal, etc….is done right!

"It is. grievous task" -implying. distracting business, engrossing occupation, one which results in little profit. "an ill business hard and difficult to toil at, an undertaking which is enough to drive almost any man to despair" (Kidwell p. 53). "it is an unhappy business" (RSV).

"which God has given to the sons of men" -If such. task is so grievous, then why has God given it to men? God has given it to men in the sense that of all God's creation on this earth, only man contemplates such questions, mankind is the only creature who asks, "Am. happy", "why", "where did. come from", "does my life have any meaning?" "Am. fulfilled?" "Man, however, is restless until he discovers the why. This quest for God in all the things around us is. futile pursuit. The reason it is unfulfilling is that it is directed toward God's creation, and not toward the mind of God which interprets God's creation" (Kidwell p. 32-33). It is. grievous task to try to find happiness in physical things.