I. There is no evidence that the elders showed penitence in coming to inquire of the Lord. Ezekiel did not send the hungry empty away; he alone as God's ambassador refused to answer those who would not leave their sins behind them when they entered into the temple of God. But there is another thing also to be said concerning the visit of these elders: they made a mere convenience of the oracle of God; whereas they had a prophet always amongst them, and might if they pleased have inquired of God often or continually, they did nothing of the kind; but when they found themselves in distress and knew not which way to turn, then they presented themselves before God's prophet.
II. True religion is emphatically a walking with God, not a mere occasional coming to Him. We say that religion is a life,and we rightly describe it so it is not a series of spasmodic efforts, not an inquiry of God now and then, not a coming to His prophet in the sixth year and the sixth month, and again in the seventh year and the fifth month, but an inquiry in all years and all months and all days, a habit of opening our hearts and consciences to Him, and of guiding our conduct by the answers which we are able to obtain.
III. The example of the elders of Israel shows us most plainly the need of leaving our sins behind us when we come to inquire of God. Self-examination and self-condemnation, perhaps, and earnest efforts to forsake the evil and do the good, must ever be the preparations for successful inquiry of God.
IV. Another lesson which this history brings before us is that prayer, or indeed coming to God in any way, must not be made a mere matter of convenience, but must be regarded as a matter of constant spiritual necessity.
Bishop Harvey Goodwin, Parish Sermons,3rd series, p. 106.