Power Corrupts Leaders

      This week in Navi we continued learning about Chizkiyahu's reign. We learned about the things he was praised for and things he was reproached for. He got rid of the גנז ספר רפואות, which was a book of incantations that the people believed in instead of putting their faith in Hashem. He also cut down the כתת נחש הנחשת, which was a copper snake that the people looked to for medical healing. He dragged his father's body through the city and did not give him a proper burial because his father worshiped idols. He took away idol worship from the people, thereby establishing Hashem as the source of everything. He showed that it is not just that Hashem is in control of religious life, they should put their faith in Hashem for EVERYTHING.
      He was reproached for three things: 1. He closed off the גיחון river, which prevented Assyria from getting access to the water, however it showed that he did not have faith in Hashem to protect them. 2. He cut off the doors of the Beit Hamikdash and sent them to Assyria which showed that Chizkiyahu would submit to Assyria to stop an attack instead of relying on Hashem even when Yishayahu already told him that Hashem would save him. And 3. He added a leap year in ניסן, albeit for good intentions (he wanted to cause a religious revival), but he didn't do it in the right way.
      We saw that only when Chizkiyahu was gravely ill and his own life was at stake did he turn to Hashem for help. However even when he is saved, he shows no recognition to Hashem and shows Babylonia every single treasure, as if to say "Oh look at me! I'm so amazing!". All of these actions come together to prove a point addressed during every reign of every king- that power corrupts leaders. Chizkiyah's famous faith in Hashem slowly faded into faith in himself. He doesn't consult with Hashem while he makes alliances and fortifies the city.
      The Pasukim tell us that after the punishment and the destruction of the people there will be a return to Yerushalaim and a rebuilding process- נחמה. This could be a sign of Yishayahu giving up. He realizes he will never have the chance to change the people, so he just accepts the fact that they will be punished and no longer interferes. The Pasukim then go on to describe further what it will be like after the punishment is over. Everyone will return to Hashem and He will forgive everyone for their sins. They will return to land from exile and the Beit Hamikdash will be rebuilt.
      This doesn't make any sense to me. The people did all of those horrible sins so they'll be punished and then...forgiven? It doesn't make any sense that after everything they had to go through, they would just be forgiven at the end anyway. Maybe it's because it was the 1/10 remnant and they were the people who didn't sin? Either way, I still don't see how this makes any sense.