"And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause Him to draw near, and He shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged His heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 30:21).

In this passage the Lord asks a question: "Who is this that engages His heart to approach unto me?" He is One who would "proceed from the midst of them." In other words, He would come from among God's people, Israel.

He would also be "their governor." Another prophet, speaking of the Messiah, wrote: "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). Additionally, this One would "approach unto" the Lord Jehovah. The prophet Daniel spoke of a "Son of man" who would approach "the Ancient of days" and be "brought" before Him (Daniel 7:13).

Jeremiah himself gives us more clues. In verse 9 of chapter 30, he wrote: "But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them." Historical David had died long before, but this new David would apparently sit on David's throne.

Jeremiah also mentions, in the last verse of the chapter, that this would be accomplished "in the latter days." The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, according to the apostle Peter, was "in the last days" (Acts 2:17); future from Jeremiah's perspective but past from ours.

Jesus certainly "engaged His heart to approach unto" His Father, as our verse said. He came to delight in and to do the will of His Father, and He also asked His Father to receive His Spirit while on the cross.

May each of us affirm that Jesus was and is the promised Messiah of God and draw "near" unto the Father by drawing "near" unto His Governor. PGH