We should also note how a man treats his family, even when he is no longer living at home. Does he honor his parents in the way he speaks about them? Does he make an effort to serve them or visit them?

The Noble Man

Once when I was praying about a man I liked, the Lord brought to mind the Scripture address of Isaiah 32:8. I looked it up eagerly, and read: “But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands” (NIV). I had no idea how to apply this Scripture to my prayers, so I waited and watched. Over the course of time, I came to see that this man was not being purposeful in our friendship, that noble plans were not being made and the deeds I observed were careless, not intentional. However, as I later studied this passage, I saw several ways to evaluate whether a man would be commended by the Lord as a noble man. This verse concludes a passage about the kingdom of righteousness that reads:

“See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the LORD; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water. The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” (Isaiah 32:1-8 NIV)

I realize this is a prophetic passage about the Messiah, and not anyone’s husband. But because here in Scripture we find the characteristics of a noble, godly man contrasted with those of a scoundrel, this is a useful passage for women to study to understand what God calls godly.

A noble man                               The scoundrel 
 
Is a shelter from the wind             Speaks folly
Is a refuge from the storm            Mind is busy with evil
Is streams of water in the desert   Practices ungodliness
The shadow of a great rock          Spreads error concerning the Lord
in a thirsty land                           Makes up evil schemes
Makes noble plans                      Does nothing for the hungry, thirsty
Does noble deeds