“House of David” Actor Optimistic About Christian Media
Michael Iskander, who plays the role of King David in the popular series “House of David,” said God is using the arts in a powerful way.
“God is pouring out his Spirit onto media,” he told Crosswalk recently. “You think about the Renaissance, all the art and all the beauty that came out of that time period was for God.”
The Renaissance sparked an explosion of creativity in the arts and included such legendary artists as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
The former Broadway actor has said the response to the biblical drama has reached beyond faith audiences.
“People have come up to me from all walks of life, not just Christians, and they talk about how much they love it,” he told the Associated Press.
“House of David” has drawn more than 44 million viewers worldwide, according to the streaming service.
The series loosely follows the life of David, including his fight with a lion, killing Goliath and eventually ascending to become king of Israel. The second season follows David’s transition from a shepherd to a warrior.
“We actually haven’t lived with the internet that long,” Iskander said. “I think it’s actually the perfect time for God to step in and say, ‘Hey, I’m wanting to be there for you. I want to be on your screens. I want to be there when you listen to music, when you pray. I want to be surrounding you with my love at every corner of the world, and I’m calling you wherever you are. And so I think that’s the ultimate reason for the resurgence.”
Although he grew up in a Chrisitan home, he said his own relationship with God has deepened dramatically after taking the role of David.
“It’s changed everything for me,” he said. “Everything about David is pointing to Christ. You read Psalm 22: ‘They pierce my hands and feet, they divide my garments among them, they cast lots.’ All of this language is present in the Old Testament and through David. So it’s been transformative for me.
“I always say: I felt like I was dead, and now I’m alive. God gave me my heartbeat, he gave me my breath. Not that I wasn’t in the faith already, but I think God is really calling all of us to a deeper love for him, a deeper conversion, a deeper relationship. That’s what God is after, He’s not after anything else except for the heart.”
Iskander, a 24-year-old actor who moved from Egypt to the United States as a boy, recently came into full communion with the Catholic Church after growing up in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
“The calling became more and more clear that Christ wanted me in the Catholic Church,” he told OSV News.
He also said playing David taught him more about dependence on God.
“I knew that if I was going to fight, I cannot fight alone. I have to have God by my side,” he said. “In that way, David inspired me and reminded me of the closeness that I need to have with Christ.”
When people watch the show, Iskander hopes they see God in David.
“I just want them to know and to see David’s heart,” he told OSV News. “And ultimately, at the center of his heart, is God.”
He told the Associated Press that his goal in playing David was to show the humanity of a biblical figure often viewed as larger than life.
“My personal goal was to bridge that gap and to show people that they make mistakes just like us,” he said.
Iskander said his faith also shapes how he thinks about acting and future roles.
“My faith always comes first,” he said. “That’s No. 1. And so, I guess I look at everything through that lens. I don’t see why there should be a separation between art and faith. I’m very lucky with David. I get to worship when I go to work. That’s a blessing. I hope more people are inspired by faith in their art.”
The second season of “House of David” currently is streaming on Prime Video.
-Dwight Widaman
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