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Playing Cards and the Bible
In the history of unexpected symbols and their connections to spirituality, there exists a fascinating tale about a soldier named Richard Middleton. While attending a worship service, instead of reaching for a Bible or a prayer book, Middleton did something unusual. He laid out a deck of playing cards in front of him, an act that immediately caught the attention of his officer.
His officer, seeing the display of cards, ordered Middleton to put them away, a directive the soldier refused. This refusal was viewed as an act of indecent behavior during a religious service, and Middleton was quickly brought before a court-martial. The major overseeing the trial told Middleton that if he could offer a satisfactory explanation for his actions, there would be no punishment.
A Deck of Cards as a Spiritual Guide
Middleton, with confidence and calm, explained his situation to the court. He had just completed an eight-day march with little time or money for necessities. After explaining that he could not afford a Bible or any other prayer book, he pulled out his deck of cards and began to explain how each card in the deck served as a reminder of his faith and devotion.
“The Ace,” he said, “reminds me that there is one God.” He continued to explain how the other cards symbolized key elements of his spiritual beliefs.
- The Two and Three: Represent the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- The Four: Represent the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
- The Five: Symbolizes the five wise virgins from the biblical parable who were prepared with trimmed lamps. While there were ten virgins in the story, only five were wise and prepared, while the other five were foolish.
- The Six: Represents the six days in which God created Heaven and Earth.
- The Seven: Reminds him that on the seventh day, even the Lord took a day of rest.
- The Eight: Represents Noah and his family, the eight righteous individuals who were spared from the great flood.
- The Nine: Reminds him of the ten lepers that sought healing from Jesus. Out of the ten, only one returned to thank Jesus, while the other nine went about their lives.
- The Ten: Represents the Ten Commandments given to Moses.
Royals, Dots, and Divine Connections
But Middleton didn’t stop there. He moved on to the face cards, offering further spiritual insights. The Queen, he said, reminded him of the Queen of Sheba, a figure of wisdom and beauty who sought out King Solomon. The King, naturally, represented the Great King of Heaven and Earth – God himself.
Even the Jack (or Knave) had a role in Middleton’s explanation. He humorously noted that the Jack represented the officer who had brought him before the court in the first place!
Middleton’s unique interpretation of the deck didn’t end with individual cards. He pointed out some fascinating numerical connections within the cards as well:
- The number of dots on a deck of cards adds up to 365, the exact number of days in a year.
- The 52 cards in the deck correspond to the number of weeks in a year.
- And, according to some, the 13 tricks that can be won in a deck represent the months in the lunar calendar.
After offering this creative and heartfelt explanation, Middleton concluded by stating: “This deck of cards is my Bible, my Almanac, and my Prayer Book.”
The Major’s Verdict
The court-martial, initially convened to punish what was seen as irreverent behavior, instead became an audience to Middleton’s remarkable and imaginative testimony. The major, clearly impressed by Middleton’s clever interpretation, ordered his men to provide Middleton with food and money. He declared Middleton a “clever fellow” and spared him any punishment.
In this remarkable tale, we see how a simple deck of cards was transformed into a powerful reminder of faith and spirituality. Richard Middleton’s story, whether legend or truth, has since captured the imagination of many, reminding us that faith can be found in the most unexpected places.