THE STORY BEHIND THE GLORY: How a Deck of Playing Cards Was Used to Pen Rock of Ages.
THE STORY BEHIND THE GLORY: How a Deck of Playing Cards Was Used to Pen Rock of Ages.
By Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.”
Sometimes God uses the most unexpected moments to teach us a lesson.
This morning on the New Mount Rose Prayer Line, I mentioned that we would be hosting a funeral service at the church on Saturday. One of the ministers asked the name of the family. I did not have that information readily available, but I did remember that the funeral directors were Rock of Ages Funeral Directors.
That one statement sparked something unexpected.
Before he prayed, Rev. Eugene Thompson began singing:
Almost immediately, others on the prayer line began humming along. The melody was familiar. The words touched our hearts. Yet most of us realized that while we knew the opening line, we did not know the rest of the hymn.
After the prayer concluded, the singing continued for a few moments. As I reflected on what had just happened, the Lord impressed upon my heart to do more than simply look up the lyrics.
He impressed upon me to discover the story behind the glory.
What I found was a powerful testimony of faith, refuge, and God’s ability to use ordinary circumstances to create something extraordinary.
The Man Behind the Hymn
Augustus Montague Toplady was born in 1740 in Farnham, England. His father, Major Richard Toplady, died while Augustus was still an infant, and his mother later moved with him to Ireland.
At sixteen years of age, Toplady experienced a life-changing conversion while attending a revival meeting in a humble barn in a small Irish village. Reflecting on that experience, he later wrote:
“Strange that I who had so often sat in church in England should be brought right with God in an obscure part of Ireland, amidst a handful of people met together in a barn, and by the ministry of one who could hardly spell his own name. Surely it was the Lord’s doing and is marvelous.”
That conversion would shape a ministry and inspire one of Christianity’s most beloved hymns.
The Storm That Inspired a Hymn
Years later, while serving as pastor in the village of Blagdon, England, Toplady was traveling near the rugged cliffs of Burrington Combe in Somerset when a violent storm suddenly erupted.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Thunder shook the countryside.
Rain poured down the rocky cliffs in torrents.
Searching desperately for safety, Toplady found shelter in a cave carved into the rock. As he waited for the storm to pass, he began reflecting on how Christ serves as a refuge for believers during the storms of life.
The image of a rock providing protection during a storm became a vivid spiritual lesson.
Just as the cave sheltered him from the wind and rain, Jesus shelters believers from sin, judgment, fear, and despair.
The Story of the Playing Cards
As the words of a hymn began forming in his mind, Toplady realized he had no paper on which to write them.
Looking down, he noticed several discarded playing cards lying on the ground.
In that era, many Christians viewed playing cards as symbols of gambling and worldly entertainment. Yet Toplady recognized that God could use even an unexpected object for His purposes.
He picked up the cards and began writing the words that had come to him while sheltered in the cave.
What others may have considered worthless became the first page upon which one of the greatest hymns in Christian history was recorded.
There is a sermon in that truth alone:
God often uses unexpected people, unexpected places, and unexpected things to accomplish His purposes.
A barn became the place of Toplady’s conversion.
A cave became the place of his inspiration.
A handful of discarded playing cards became the first manuscript of a hymn that would bless millions.
And this morning, a simple mention of a funeral home on a prayer line became the catalyst for rediscovering a timeless message that still speaks to believers today.
The Meaning of the Hymn
“Rock of Ages”
The Rock is Jesus Christ.
He is eternal, unchanging, and dependable.
When everything around us is shifting, Christ remains firm.
“Cleft for Me”
The word cleft means split or opened.
It points directly to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. In John 19:34, a Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side, and blood and water flowed out.
Through His suffering, Christ opened the way of salvation for all who believe.
“Let Me Hide Myself in Thee”
This phrase echoes Exodus 33:22, where God placed Moses in the cleft of a rock and protected him as His glory passed by.
Toplady understood that believers find their ultimate protection not in earthly strength, but in Christ Himself.
A Lesson for Us Today
The story behind Rock of Ages reminds us that God often meets His people in the middle of life’s storms.
When the thunder rolls, run to the Rock.
When grief overwhelms you, run to the Rock.
When uncertainty surrounds you, run to the Rock.
When your own strength fails, run to the Rock.
And remember that God can use anything for His glory—a barn, a cave, a storm, a handful of discarded playing cards, or even a conversation on a prayer line.
The same God who inspired Augustus Toplady in a cave centuries ago is still providing shelter for His people today.
Perhaps that is why, after all these years, those opening words still resonate in the hearts of believers:
“Sometimes God writes His greatest songs on the backs of life’s discarded playing cards.”
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