Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 44:20

20. He feedeth of ashes : a deceived heart hath turned him aside , that he cannot deliver his soul , nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand ?

Which is an unsavoury, unprofitable, and pernicious Food: and no less unsatisfying, uncomfortable, and mischievous is the worship of Idols

A Mind corrupted and deceived by long custome, deep prejudice, gross errour, and especially by his own Lusts.

From the way of Truth, from the knowledge and worship of the true God, unto this brutish Idolatry.

From the snares and dangers of Idolatry. This cannot is to be understood morally, so as to note the great difficulty, but not the utter impossibility of it; for if Idolaters would consider things, they might be convinced of, and turned from that gross way of Wickedness, as is implied from the foregoing Verse.

What is this Idol, which I have made with my right Hand, i. e. with all my strength, as was said before; the right Hand being the strongest, and the chief instrument of this and other actions; which I set at my right Hand, as the true God is said in Scripture to be at the right hand of his People, Psal. 16. 8. & 109. 31. & 121. 5. Which I highly honour, for the most honourable place was on the right Hand, as is known; to which, I look and trust for relief and assistance, which God in Scripture is said to afford to his People, by being at and holding of their right hand, Psal. 73. 23. & 110. 5. What, I say, is this Idol? Is it not a lie, which though it seems and pretends to be something, and to be a god, yet in truth, is nothing but vanity and falshood, deceiving all that put their trust in it?

Marginal references: Hos. 4. 12.; [Or at]