Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 29:18
O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses Yahweh at the close of his public prayer over the temple offerings, immediately after noting the people's willing contributions and before praying for Solomon's succession.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁמַר (shamar) means "keep" or "guard," paired with זֹאת (zot, "this") to specify preserving the exact devotion just witnessed.
The thread — The text's focus on directed hearts runs to Jeremiah 32:39, where God promises to give His people one heart and one way, and Jeremiah 10:23, which states that a person's path is not self-directed.
Why it lands — The verse states that God must preserve a specific desire and align the people's affections toward Himself. It requires the reader to recognize that enduring worship depends on divine preservation rather than human willpower.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 32:39 I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
- Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
- Psalms 10:17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
- Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- Psalms 119:113 The double-minded I despise, but Your law I love.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
- Hebrews 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.