1. Isaiah 53:1 refers to the suffering servant as “the Arm of the Lord.”
There are 37 references to “the Arm of the Lord” in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). NEVER does that phrase refer to Israel. The Arm of the Lord acts on behalf of Israel, but is never Israel. Among other things, the Arm of the Lord REDEEMS and DELIVERS Israel when Israel is not able to deliver herself. (See, for example, Exodus 6:6, Exodus 15:16, Deuteronomy 4:34, 5:15, 9:29, 26:8, II Kings 17:36, Psalm 44:3, and Ezekiel 20:33-34.) Clearly the suffering servant, the Arm of the Lord, cannot be Israel.
2. The consistent use of pronouns in the passage makes it clear that the suffering servant is an individual – who is distinct from the Jewish people – to whom Isaiah was speaking.
Throughout the passage, the suffering servant is always referred to in the singular (he, him, himself, and his), while the people of Israel are referred to in the plural (we, us, and our) or simply as “my people.” Thus, the suffering servant cannot be Israel. For example, Isaiah 53:5 states:
But HE (the Servant) was wounded because of OUR (Isaiah’s people–Israel) transgressions, HE (the Servant) was crushed because of OUR (Isaiah’s people–Israel) iniquities: the chastisement of OUR (Isaiah’s people– Israel) welfare was upon HIM (the Servant), and with HIS stripes (the Servant’s stripes) WE (Isaiah’s people– Israel) are healed.
This can be seen throughout the chapter as well. The Servant is clearly an individual and “OUR” is the people of Israel.
3. In Isaiah 53, the Servant is ‘uniquely righteous’.
In the book of Isaiah, Israel is God’s dearly loved people. However, they are not called a perfect people. Case in point, Isaiah 1:4 says of the nation:
“Alas sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. A brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters!”
He then goes on in the same chapter to characterize Judah as Sodom, Jerusalem as a harlot, and the people as those whose hands are stained with blood (verses 10, 15, and 21). What a far cry from the INNOCENT sufferer of Isaiah 53:9 who had “done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”
Additionally, the suffering servant is the most RIGHTEOUS person described in SCRIPTURE. Not only is he called a Servant (of God), in Isaiah 53:11, he is called “Tsadeek ahvdee” צַדִּיק עַבְדִּי, or “My righteous servant.” This is the only place in the ENTIRE HEBREW BIBLE where this phrase is used. It certainly is never used of Israel. In addition, neither Abraham, Moses, David, nor any other prophet or ruler was ever called “Tsadeek ahvdee”, or “My righteous servant” in the Hebrew Bible.
This suffering servant must, therefore, be someone greater than Abraham, David, or even Moses to be called such a name. It is no wonder that the great majority of rabbis throughout the ages concluded that this righteous servant was none other than the Messiah of Israel.
4. Isaiah said in verse 10: “It pleased the LORD to bruise him.”
Has the awful treatment of the Jewish people, (contrary, by the way, to the teachings of Jesus’ to love everyone), really been God’s pleasure, as is said of the suffering of the servant in Isaiah 53:10?
If, as some rabbis say, Isaiah 53 refers to the holocaust, can we really say of Israel’s suffering during that horrible period, “It pleased the LORD to bruise him?” Did God take pleasure with the holocaust? Yet it makes perfect sense to say that God was pleased to have the Messiah suffer and die as our sin offering to provide us forgiveness and atonement.
5. The figure described in Isaiah 53 is to ATONE for his people’s sins.
The Hebrew word used in Isaiah 53:10 for “sin-offering” is “asham,” אָשָׁם which is a term meaning guilt and used of an offering for a sin or trespass. The exact same Hebrew word is used 27 times in Leviticus, the main book in the Torah about sin/trespass offerings. THEREFORE, HOW CAN ISRAEL BE A SIN OFFERING FOR THEMSELVES?
Also, if Isaiah 53 refers to Israel then Isaiah 53:8 should read: “Israel was struck for the transgression of Israel”. It makes no sense!
The guilt offering, or “asham,” was always offered on behalf of or in place of the one who had committed the trespass or sin. Isaiah 53 describes a sinless and perfect sacrificial lamb who takes upon himself the sins of others so that they might be forgiven. Can anyone really claim that the terrible suffering of the Jewish people atones for the sins of the world? Whoever Isaiah 53 speaks of, the figure described suffers and DIES in order to provide a LEGAL PAYMENT for sin so that others can be forgiven. This cannot be true of the Jewish people as a whole, or of any other regular human.
6. The “asham” אָשָׁם (verse 10) always had to die. Likewise, the suffering servant clearly died.
See Isaiah 53:8, 9, 10, and 12. He was “cut off out of the land of the living,” he had a grave; he was with the rich “in his death;” and he “poured out his soul unto death.” However, Israel as a whole never died. In fact, it is impossible for Israel to ever die, because God promised Israel that she would live forever. (See, for example Jeremiah 31:35-37.)
7. The Jewish people (Israel) were promised that if they obeyed God, they would be greatly blessed, not SUFFER.
Deuteronomy 28:2 “All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God”
So why would Israel SUFFER in Isaiah 53 if there was “no deceit in his mouth”?
A. Powerful video on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:
https://youtu.be/oC6A7Addo5
B. Psalm 22 is Jesus on the cross: https://youtu.be/MxV173rMXK4
C. WATCH reaction of these two JEWS to the new testament and crucifixion
1. http://youtu.be/5sMEkGoojbg
2. https://youtu.be/eu4BaZyweuE
D. Check the channel ONE FOR ISRAELfor the growing church in Israel. https://youtu.be/X6UfxZbQDSE