This ancient Messianic passage in Jeremiah, chapter 30, verses 21 and 22, follows closely on GOD’s promise to restore Israel; to rebuild the nation; and to redeem them; both physically and spiritually. All these promises hinge on their ‘noble Governor’ who would be fit to represent the people before GOD, as Moses had been.
Let us look at this Person, called ‘their Governor’, and what the Tanakh has to say concerning Him. We start with Jacob’s prediction, in Genesis, Chapter 49, and verse 10: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
That mysterious title of ‘Shiloh’ is given to one who would emerge from the tribe of Judah. Until He came, royalty and legislative leadership was committed to the tribe, as in Psalm 60, verse 7: Judah is My Lawgiver.
With the coming of the One called ‘Shiloh’, born from the tribe, the kingship and legislative leadership became His. In other words, Shiloh becomes the Governor of His people, and also of the whole world, as Jacob predicted: ....to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Moses also foretold His coming when he spoke of the future ruler and representative of Israel in the Words of Deuteronomy, Chapter 18, and verse 15: The LORD your GOD will raise up for you a Prophet, like me, from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.
Moses stood between the people and GOD, and so would this coming Prophet. In the Words of GOD in our text: .....I will cause Him to draw near, and He shall approach Me.
As our people had to listen to Moses, so they were commanded to obey this coming Prophet. Moses was more than a prophet, he was also the leader and Lawgiver of his people. We should expect his successor to be like him, since he told us that they would resemble one another.
A third clue to the identity of this Governor spoken of in our text, is found in Isaiah, Chapter 9, verses 6 and 7: For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon His shoulder; and His Name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom.
In this passage, the Governor of Israel is born into the nation, but yet possesses a divine nature. A King, and Lawgiver whose reign shall know no end. He is fit to approach GOD on behalf of His people, not only by Divine Appointment, but also because He possesses Deity! He is called, Mighty GOD.
Other prophets, including Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Micah concur in this amazing revelation that GOD Himself is Governor, and that He would appear in the midst of His people, Israel, as one of them.
One more portrait from the prophets, and I will close. In the Book of Daniel, we see this person approaching GOD as our text declared. Daniel, Chapter 7, verses 13 through 14: I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of Heaven. He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near Him. Then to Him was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom, the one which shall not be destroyed.
It is clear that the reference is to Maschiach Malkeynu, Messiah, our King. That as Jacob foretold: To Him shall be the obedience of the peoples,
and that He is the ‘Governor’ and ‘Lawgiver’ of the nations. Such a glorious and Mighty Messiah befits us; and such is the One GOD spoke of in our opening text.
If we follow the contexts of these prophecies, and others like them, however, we find that He establishes His reign only after violent opposition from us humans. It need not surprise us that this is so, because of our fallen nature; but GOD will have His way; and peace will ultimately triumph. Are we agreed on the identity of this Governor? Up to now, we have only quoted from the Tanakh, the Hebrew Scriptures, and yet it is clear that we are referring to Messiah YESHUA, JESUS of Nazareth. Listen to His Words to the High Priest at His trial, in Mark, Chapter 14, verses 61 and 62: Again the High Priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?’ And YESHUA said, ‘I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven.
We can either tear our clothes, as the High Priest did on hearing this declaration; or, far better, we can make it our business to find out from our Tanakh whether this is the truth. Shalom.