Why does the Lord say that “their prince shall be one of themselves” and that he will draw near to him?

Through Jeremiah, the Lord had made it clear that the nation’s leadership had utterly failed to lead the people in covenant faithfulness. Any kind of restoration in the land would need a new and faithful leadership, which the Lord himself would provide in the form of a Davidic king (Jeremiah 23:1–5;Jeremiah 30:9). This new leadership is in focus again here in Jeremiah 30:21; however, the Lord speaks of their prince and not a king. The word king, especially a Davidic king, is typically used to describe the ideal ruler of Israel, but none in the past had ever lived up to these expectations. This prince appears to have some of the qualities that point to the Messianic leader of Jeremiah 30:9, but there is no reference to a Davidic king because, just like those who came before the exile, none of the future leaders who will come after the exile fulfills these expectations either¹.

This ruler will, however, be established by the Lord and as per the covenant, he would be one of themselves, their ruler shall come from their midst; he will be an Israelite and not a foreigner (Deuteronomy 17:15). The Lord’s people will no longer be ruled by a foreign king as they were in exile. 

The Lord will make this ruler draw near, and he shall approach me. The ruler would be granted special access to the Lord as he ruled the Lord’s restored people. The question, For who would dare of himself to approach me? makes it clear that this special access is given by the Lord and not simply taken. To assume access to the Lord had always been a dangerous thing in Israel’s history. The one who leads the Lord’s people is called by the Lord and granted access; he does not take it for himself².

This message of a ruler over the Lord’s people points once again, beyond the human rulers who were placed over Israel after the exile, to the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, who fulfilled all that was expected of the Lord’s king.