Isaiah 33:7 “Behold, their valiant ones cry outside; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.”

On it’s website, the Manhattan Institute describes itself as “a community of scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders dedicated to advancing opportunity, individual liberty, and the rule of law in America and its great cities. Drawing on a range of experiences and skills, our fellows craft policy solutions to many of the most urgent challenges facing our cities and our country.” On of their experts is Heather Mac Donald.

Mac Donald, a Stanford University Law School graduate (Juris Doctor degree), published her landmark 2016 book “The War on Cops” where she argued that, after two decades of decline, violent crime has been rising sharply in many American cities due mainly to the attack on our police forces. The Manhattan Institute explains in the forward to the book: “Mac Donald gives voice to the many residents of high-crime neighborhoods who want proactive policing. She warns that race-based attacks on the criminal-justice system are eroding the authority of law and putting lives at risk.”

We have just witnessed another example of the erosion of law and order within our cities, this time once again in Chicago. But the heinous crime was carried out on an officer in front of her home by young boys.

Chicago Police Interim Superintendent Eric Carter reported that four teenagers – 19-year-old Trevor Breeland, 19-year-old Joseph Brooks, 18-year-old Jakwon Buchanan and 16-year-old Jaylan Frazier – are charged with the May 6th first degree murder of police officer Areanah Preston, as well as multiple counts of armed robbery, arson, burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon.

Carter explained that “The suspects, out looking for victims late Friday night and Saturday morning, pulled up in a stolen vehicle as Officer Preston returned to her home in Avalon Park and ran toward her while armed, opening fire at Preston, who returned fire. She was shot both in the face and the neck.”

The youngest suspect, Jaylan Frazier, called a friend to see if he had seen the news about the police officer killed, bragging to his friend that he did it. Prosecutors said the friend then went straight to police.

Officer Preston’s mother responded: “As crazy as it may sound, I pray for their family. Any time you shoot someone and say that’s my work. What kind of human would say that about another human being?”

Officer Preston was days away from graduating with her Masters degree in Law from Loyola University. How such a young and already accomplished police officer could die at the hands of such young thugs on a joy ride of crime speaks directly to Mac Donald’s point in her book.

We have crippled the effectiveness of our police force to uphold law and order by undercutting their authority and attacking their image as systemically racist. The result: fewer people applying to be police and more of our police retiring, which leads to more boldness in violent criminals, including teenagers.

In this week’s verse, the prophet Isaiah is describing the lawlessness in Jerusalem and the pending attack from Assyrian king Sennacherub. Their rejection of God’s word, even to the point of shedding innocent blood, has led to the valiant men and the ambassadors of peace weeping bitterly over the consequences.

Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians due to their rejection of God as their Lord and Savior. But God graciously promised a future Messiah who will offer forgiveness for their sin and reconciliation back to God if they are willing to trust Him. In chapter 52, Isaiah prophecies “The Lord has made bear His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:10).

Isaiah further details how Messiah will lead us back to God and out of our sin: “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, everyone, each to his own way. And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6). This Messiah not only brings salvation to all of mankind, but He does so by paying for the sins we have committed, even the ones as wretched as the 4 young boys who murdered Officer Preston.

And finally, this Messiah will have the power to save anyone who is willing, because Isaiah explains that “He will pour out His soul unto death, He will be numbered with us as transgressors, He will bear our sins, and He will then intercede on our behalf, as the true transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12).

Only Jesus Christ fulfilled Isaiah’s Messianic prophecies. He is the solution to end the war on our police.
“The Evidence of Faith’s Substance” _ Article #553