Beware the Lying Spirit

It seems this story has been told a millions times and yet the truth it imparts remains potent. What strikes me as I read it again today is how watered down the religion had become in Israel. I get the sense that Ahab is courting Jehoshaphat to gain his alliance againt Syria and feels compelled to passify him with some kind of pretense of inquiring after the will of God. It's all just smoke and mirrors.