The “loud shout” of steadfast faith is the exact opposite of the groans of wavering faith and the complaints of discouraged hearts. Of all “the secret[s] of the LORD” (Psalm 25:14 KJV), I do not believe there are any more valuable than the secret of this “loud shout” of faith.

“The LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men’ ” (Joshua 6:2). He did not say, “I will deliver” but “I have delivered.” The victory already belonged to the children of Israel, and now they were called to take possession of it. But the big question still remaining was how. It looked impossible, but the Lord had a plan.

No one would normally believe that a shout could cause city walls to fall. Yet the secret of their victory lay precisely in just that shout, for it was the shout of faith. And it was a faith that dared to claim a promised victory solely on the basis of the authority of God’s Word, even though there were no physical signs of fulfillment. God answered His promise in response to their faith, for when they shouted, He caused the walls to fall.

God had declared, “I have delivered Jericho into your hands,” and faith believed this to be true. And many centuries later the Holy Spirit recorded this triumph of faith in the book of Hebrews as follows: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days” (Hebrews 11:30). H ANNAH WHITALL SMITH

Faith can never reach its consummation, Till the victor’s thankful song we raise: In the glorious city of salvation, God has told us all the gates are praise.