When I read those verses, I see "smitten of God." Sin might bring its own punishment, but not in the case of our sinless Substitute.
I'm typing w/ just 1 hand, as my other is hurt, so may abbrev some.
Ur comment is very interesting. In the other thread I commented on your seeing "stricken by God" from the passage. That this is what u c is very int of itself. I spoke to that a bit in the other thread. I'll mention here that the comment "but not in the case of our sinless Substitute." misses a big point of His death, imo.
This is not an act of arbitrary power on the part of God. The rejecters of His mercy reap that which they have sown. God is the fountain of life; and when one chooses the service of sin, he separates from God, and thus cuts himself off from life. He is "alienated from the life of God." Christ says, "All they that hate Me love death." Eph. 4:18; Prov. 8:36. God gives them existence for a time that they may develop their character and reveal their principles. This accomplished, they receive the results of their own choice. By a life of rebellion, Satan and all who unite with him place themselves so out of harmony with God that His very presence is to them a consuming fire. The glory of Him who is love will destroy them.
At the beginning of the great controversy, the angels did not understand this. Had Satan and his host then been left to reap the full result of their sin, they would have perished; but it would not have been apparent to heavenly beings that this was the inevitable result of sin. A doubt of God's goodness would have remained in their minds as evil seed, to produce its deadly fruit of sin and woe. (DA 764)
Specifically it would undermine the point being made here, that death comes not as a result of God's actions, but as a result of sin. It was Christ's death which proved this!