One word in conclusion. `We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out'. With

that `one event' vanishes all the `gains' of this life. Oh to realize the value of an everyday appreciation of

resurrection ground!

`Your labour is NOT IN VAIN in the Lord'.

After surveying the course of nature and seeing impressed upon the whole of creation the endless circle of

objectless activity, Koheleth proceeds to a further detailed investigation. We observed that the opening of verse 3

gave the key to the direction of the search, What profit? We shall now observe that verses 12 and 13, which

commence a sub-section, likewise provide the key to the matter of the search:

`I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom

concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be

exercised therewith' (Eccles. 1:12,13).

The search was to be conducted `by wisdom'' and it is essential to our appreciation both of the method and of the

results of the enquiry, to see that Koheleth retained that God-given wisdom throughout the investigation. Wisdom is

the emphatic word of this section:

`To seek and search out by wisdom' (1:13).

`I ... have gotten more wisdom ... my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge' (1:16).

`I gave my heart to know wisdom' (1:17).

`In much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow' (1:18).

In 2:3, even in the apparent plunge, `giving myself unto wine', Koheleth still could say, `yet acquainting my

heart with wisdom'. Further, in 2:9, the writer asserts, `my wisdom remained with me'. We travel as far as 7:25 still

to hear the words:

`I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things'.

In the conclusion of the book, the wisdom of Koheleth is mentioned:

`Moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge' (12:9).

Whatever we may think of the personal participation of the writer in the objects of his search, we must not

ourselves forget the scriptural emphasis upon the searcher's wisdom. Moreover, he declares also for our benefit that

at the time he pursued this enquiry, he was King. These investigations were not carried out by an inexperienced

minor, but one who for the purposes of his kingly office had received a special grant of wisdom. Further, in a king

of such wealth, magnificence and sway as that of Solomon, we see one who was able to the fullest extent to sound

the depths and scale the heights in his research.

Returning to 1:13, we observe that Solomon gave his heart `to seek and search'. The word `search' (tur) is the

word used so frequently of the spies in chapters 13 and 14 of Numbers. It indicates a thorough survey according to

the charge given by Moses to the spies (13:18-20) of the nature of the land itself, its crops and its inhabitants. So

Solomon's search was thorough, it was `by wisdom' and it was the occupation of his `heart'. The object of this

thorough search was `all things which are done under heaven', which in turn is further described as:

`This sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith' (1:13).

The object is the things `done' under heaven. Verse 14 tells us that Koheleth had seen all the works that are done

under the sun, and they were all vanity and vexation of spirit. It is the same sentiment and the same word, rendered

`wrought', that we read in 2:17. Among the things `done' we may never have included the `oppressions' that abound