Actor Zachary Levi believes the ancient story of Israel’s most famous king still offers a powerful lens for understanding today’s divided culture, particularly the spiritual forces he warns are often overlooked.

“We are, and have always been, battling principalities and powers,” the 45-year-old “Shazam” star told The Christian Post. “Yes, there’s flesh and blood that’s associated or involved in all of this, but I think that’s part of the problem. We are all being conditioned, actively, not passively, actively conditioned to hate each other.”

The Louisiana-born actor hosts and narrates "David: King of Israel," a four-part docudrama streaming on FOX Nation that explores the life of the biblical king from shepherd boy to giant slayer to ruler of Israel.

The series combines historical commentary, reenactments and narration from Levi to examine the complex life of David, a figure revered in Scripture as “a man after God’s own heart” despite his well-documented moral failures.

According to Levi, who has described himself as “Christian-adjacent,” the ancient biblical narrative remains relevant in a moment when cultural and political divisions appear increasingly sharp.

“We are all being propagandized from all sides to see the other as ‘other’ and dehumanize them,” the actor said. “People start believing the world would be better if the other side just disappeared or agreed with everything they believe.”

But Levi said that viewing the struggle as merely political or social misses a deeper spiritual dimension addressed throughout Scripture.

“We’re being led to believe we’re in some battle with the flesh and the blood sitting across from us at the Thanksgiving table,” he said. “And it’s like, no, no, no. We are battling ideas. We are battling bad ideas. And we need to be able to humanize each other across that table.”

Raised in a household, Levi, who recently starred in the faith-based film “Sarah’s Oil,” said his mother instilled in him the belief that spiritual forces operate beyond what can be seen.

“My mom raised me and my sisters from the beginning, recognizing that there is a spiritual plane,” he said. “Whether people want to admit that or not, there is a realm outside of this physical, tangible world that exists. And in that realm there is light, and there is darkness, and there is a constant battle going on for our souls.”

The actor said, acknowledging that spiritual struggle helps explain the depths of human cruelty seen throughout history and even more recently with the Epstein Files. 

“If you don’t start with at least the premise that there is spiritual battle going on, then it will blow your mind to see the levels of depravity in the human condition,” he said. “But when you look at the Bible or history, you see that this struggle between light and darkness has been going on forever.”

That tension, Levi said, is precisely why the story of David continues to resonate thousands of years later, even for those who aren't believers.

“David’s story is incredible,” he said. “It’s action-packed. There’s drama, intrigue, giants, witches; it’s like Lord of the Rings. It’s epic. … I might sound kind of blasphemous saying this, but the story of David is, in some ways, more relatable than the story of Christ.”

Levi quickly clarified that the life of Jesus remains “the ultimate story” for Christians, but said David’s flaws mirror the moral struggles people face today. Among those failures were David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his orchestration of the death of her husband, Uriah. Yet the king’s repentance and restoration remain central themes in Scripture, said Levi, and in the new series.

“Jesus was perfect. That’s harder for broken human beings to relate to,” he said. “David, on the other hand, is this full human being, a man after God’s own heart who still made some really horrible decisions.”

“He made some truly awful choices,” Levi said. “But he could still find God’s grace and forgiveness and redemption. And that’s much closer to what our own journeys look like. … I never looked at David and thought, ‘What a horrible person.’ I thought, ‘Oh, he’s a person and I’m a person, and I’m supposed to be learning from these stories.’”

“My mom raised me and my sisters from the beginning, recognizing that there is a spiritual plane,” he said. “Whether people want to admit that or not, there is a realm outside of this physical, tangible world that exists. And in that realm there is light, and there is darkness, and there is a constant battle going on for our souls.”

The actor said, acknowledging that spiritual struggle helps explain the depths of human cruelty seen throughout history and even more recently with the Epstein Files. 

“If you don’t start with at least the premise that there is spiritual battle going on, then it will blow your mind to see the levels of depravity in the human condition,” he said. “But when you look at the Bible or history, you see that this struggle between light and darkness has been going on forever.”

That tension, Levi said, is precisely why the story of David continues to resonate thousands of years later, even for those who aren't believers.

“David’s story is incredible,” he said. “It’s action-packed. There’s drama, intrigue, giants, witches; it’s like Lord of the Rings. It’s epic. … I might sound kind of blasphemous saying this, but the story of David is, in some ways, more relatable than the story of Christ.”

Levi quickly clarified that the life of Jesus remains “the ultimate story” for Christians, but said David’s flaws mirror the moral struggles people face today. Among those failures were David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his orchestration of the death of her husband, Uriah. Yet the king’s repentance and restoration remain central themes in Scripture, said Levi, and in the new series.

“Jesus was perfect. That’s harder for broken human beings to relate to,” he said. “David, on the other hand, is this full human being, a man after God’s own heart who still made some really horrible decisions.”

“He made some truly awful choices,” Levi said. “But he could still find God’s grace and forgiveness and redemption. And that’s much closer to what our own journeys look like. … I never looked at David and thought, ‘What a horrible person.’ I thought, ‘Oh, he’s a person and I’m a person, and I’m supposed to be learning from these stories.’”

“My mom raised me and my sisters from the beginning, recognizing that there is a spiritual plane,” he said. “Whether people want to admit that or not, there is a realm outside of this physical, tangible world that exists. And in that realm there is light, and there is darkness, and there is a constant battle going on for our souls.”

The actor said, acknowledging that spiritual struggle helps explain the depths of human cruelty seen throughout history and even more recently with the Epstein Files. 

“If you don’t start with at least the premise that there is spiritual battle going on, then it will blow your mind to see the levels of depravity in the human condition,” he said. “But when you look at the Bible or history, you see that this struggle between light and darkness has been going on forever.”

That tension, Levi said, is precisely why the story of David continues to resonate thousands of years later, even for those who aren't believers.

“David’s story is incredible,” he said. “It’s action-packed. There’s drama, intrigue, giants, witches; it’s like Lord of the Rings. It’s epic. … I might sound kind of blasphemous saying this, but the story of David is, in some ways, more relatable than the story of Christ.”

Levi quickly clarified that the life of Jesus remains “the ultimate story” for Christians, but said David’s flaws mirror the moral struggles people face today. Among those failures were David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his orchestration of the death of her husband, Uriah. Yet the king’s repentance and restoration remain central themes in Scripture, said Levi, and in the new series.

“Jesus was perfect. That’s harder for broken human beings to relate to,” he said. “David, on the other hand, is this full human being, a man after God’s own heart who still made some really horrible decisions.”

“He made some truly awful choices,” Levi said. “But he could still find God’s grace and forgiveness and redemption. And that’s much closer to what our own journeys look like. … I never looked at David and thought, ‘What a horrible person.’ I thought, ‘Oh, he’s a person and I’m a person, and I’m supposed to be learning from these stories.’”