Reading prophecy is always a bit rough... I have trouble understanding it usually and it takes quite a bit of pondering for me to see some glimpses into what God is conveying. The first chapters of prophecy here seem as if they're about the future for sure. Some of it hinting at Jesus and God's final triumph as well as notes about Israel's future in the coming passages. I guess to some degree even those that received the word of God have trouble understanding it.
Hezekiah's final statements at the end of this definitely lead me to believe the same was true about him. As smart and as knowledge as you think you might be, you might not understand what God is telling you completely. He read that at least he will have peace in the time of his reign, and that's a kinda selfish or self-centered interpretation of the words of Isaiah. To him, those words brought him some measure of relief, but maybe some anxiety as well knowing that his children and the children of his generation would have to suffer. I wonder, will the legacy of this generation of believers be the same? Everyday, more and more Christians are dying because of their faith in Christ. Moreso than any time in history. "Lord how long?" Some days it feels like the world is against you and even though you know that even Jesus himself said we would not be free of that, sometimes you wish you didn't have to go through it.
It seemed like Hezekiah knew that too. He knew it was not just for God's glory but his own benefit that he was afflicted and suffered near death. It probably drew him closer to reliance on God personally and also made him see more on a personal level how much praise God deserved for his grace. You know I really don't like having to go through that either but sometimes God knows it's the only way. And it's very hard to admit to yourself sometimes that you need to rely on him.
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