One notices immediately as you come to Genesis
chapter 38, that for some reason the inspired
author of Holy Scripture thought it necessary to
insert this chapter between chapter 37 and the
following chapters 39 and on, which have to
do with Joseph.
And one immediately asks the question, why?
But nevertheless it is here and in the
exposition that will follow, I will try to
explain at least some of the reasons that
may have guided the author in inserting this
chapter.
As you know it is a chapter that
has some rather strange things in it, but
nevertheless it is part of the Word of
God and we are expounding the Scriptures.
And so we are going to attempt an
exposition of it.
Let's begin reading with verse 1, we'll read
the entire chapter.
And it came about at that time that
Judah departed from his brothers and visited a
certain Adolamite whose name was Hara.
And Judah saw there a daughter of a
certain Canaanite whose name was Shur.
And he took her and went in to
her.
So she conceived and bore a son and
he named him Ur.
Then she conceived again and bore a son
and named him Onan.
And she bore still another son and named
him Shelah.
And it was at Chezib that she bore
him.
Now Judah took a wife for Ur, his
firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
But Ur, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the
sight of the Lord, so the Lord took
his life.
Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to
your brother's wife and perform your duty as
a brother-in-law to her and raise
up offspring for your brother.
As you know, this custom of leveret marriage,
which is referred to here, is later incorporated
into the Mosaic law.
It was, however, the practice of more than
one of the nations of the ancient East.
And was designed to preserve the name of
the brother and also his inheritance.
And evidently, since it's included in the law
of Moses, it has the approbation of God.
Now we read in verse 8, And Onan
knew that the offspring would not be his.
That is, the child is reckoned to be
the child of the brother who had died.
So it came about that when he went
in to his brother's wife, he wasted his
seed on the ground in order not to
give offspring to his brother.
But what he did was displeasing in the
sight of the Lord.
So he took his life also.
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law
Tamar, Remain a widow in your father's house
until my son Shelah grows up.
For he thought, I am afraid that he
too may die like his brothers.
He evidently feels that there is some ill
luck associated with Tamar.
So Tamar went and lived in her father's
house.
Now after a considerable time, Shuah's daughter, the
wife of Judah, died.
And when the time of mourning was ended,
Judah went up to his sheep shearers at
Timnah.
He and his friend Hirah the Adolamite.
And it was told to Tamar, Behold your
father-in-law is going up to Timnah
to shear his sheep.
So she removed her widow's garments, and covered
herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, And
sat in the gateway of Enayim, which is
on the road to Timnah.
For she saw that Shelah had grown up,
and she had not been given to him
as a wife.
When Judah saw her, he thought she was
a harlot, for she had covered her face.
So he turned aside to her by the
road, and said, Here now, let me come
in to you.
For he did not know that she was
his daughter-in-law.
And she said, What will you give me,
that you may come in to me?
He said, Therefore, I will send you a
kid from the flock.
She said, Moreover, will you give a pledge
until you send it?
And he said, What pledge shall I give
you?
And she said, Your seal, and your cord,
and your staff that is in your hand.
So he gave them to her, and went
in to her, and she conceived by him.
Then she arose and departed, and removed her
veil, and put on her widow's garments.
When Judah sent the kid by his friend,
the Adolamite, to receive the pledge from the
woman's hand, he did not find her.
And he asked the men of her place,
saying, Where is the temple prostitute who was
by the road at Enaim?
But they said, There has been no temple
prostitute here.
You will remember that in some of the
religions of the ancient East, it was a
custom for prostitution to be associated with the
worship.
And there were temple prostitutes.
And that, of course, is what Tamar has
sought to disguise herself as.
And since the gods were gods of fertility,
the act of fornication with the temple prostitute
was regarded as a worship act.
It was, of course, a vile kind of
religion, but nevertheless, that is what is referred
to here.
And the association of the fornication with the
fertility of the soil, and the gods who
were responsible for it, is the reason for
the temple prostitute.
Verse 22, So he returned to Judah, and
said, I did not find her.
And furthermore, the men of the place said,
There has been no temple prostitute here.
Then Judah said, Let her keep them, lest
we become a laughing stock.
After all, I sent this kid, but you
did not find her.
Now it was about three months later that
Judah was informed, Your daughter-in-law Tamar
has played the harlot.
And behold, she is also with child by
harlotry.
Then Judah said, Bring her out and let
her be burned.
Later on, it was the priest's daughter, who
was guilty of a sin like this, only,
who was to be burned.
Adultery was punished in the Mosaic law by
stoning to death.
But this, of course, is before the time
of the Mosaic law.
It was while she was being brought out,
that she sent her father-in-law, saying,
I am with child by the man to
whom these things belong.
And she said, Please examine and see.
Whose signet ring and cords and staff are
these?
And Judah recognized them and said, She is
more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did
not give her to my son Shelah.
And he did not have relations with her
again.
And it came about at the time she
was giving birth, that behold there were twins
in her womb.
Moreover, it took place while she was giving
birth.
One put out a hand and the midwife
took and tied a scarlet thread on his
hand, saying, This one came out first.
But it came about as he drew back
his hand, that behold his brother came out.
Then she said, What a breach you have
made for yourself.
So he was named Perez, which means a
breach.
And afterward his brother came out, who had
the scarlet thread on his hand and he
was named Zerah.
May the Lord bless this reading of his
word.
The subject for this morning in the exposition
of the book of Genesis is Judah and
the Messianic succession.
As many of you know who have been
listening to the exposition of the book of
Genesis.
In these morning hours on Sunday.
I have many times, particularly recently, commented upon
the statements that Professor H.C. Leupold has
made in his commentary on Genesis.
In his hints for the homiletical use of
the book of Genesis.
He has advised the preachers in which he
counsels them about certain of the leading ideas
in the chapters.
And also offers advice on whether certain chapters
and certain sections of chapters should be preached.
Now he is often advised against the preaching
of chapters in the book of Genesis and
portions of the book of Genesis.
And in my opinion, as I've been trying
to express to you, it's only my opinion,
but in my opinion he's usually wrong.
Because I think it is sensible to preach
what is revealed by the Holy Spirit.
And I think particularly it is so in
Believers Chapel since we do try to have
a systematic consecutive expository ministry.
But if Professor Leupold is ever right in
counseling that a chapter should not be preached.
He would be right here.
He says concerning this particular chapter entirely unsuited
to homiletical use.
Much as the devout student may glean from
the chapter.
I rather think however that since this chapter
is found in the word of God.
That is it is therefore the subject for
preaching.
It certainly is part of the divine revelation.
I remember some words that John Calvin has
spoken concerning other doctrines that are not too
popular when they are preached.
Speaking about the doctrine of election, Calvin in
the Institutes makes the comment.
That we ought to teach the truth of
God.
That he has given us to teach.
Lest we seem to scoff at the Holy
Spirit for publishing what we ought to suppress.
There are people who give advice to the
effect that you should never preach for example
the doctrine of election.
Because it is divisive or it causes problems.
In fact when I went through theological seminary
that was the advice that was given me
by my professor of theology.
He said that the doctrine of election ought
not to be preached to an ordinary audience.
Now that was very much, that was of
great interest to me.
Because I just naturally it seemed had the
idea that all of the Bible was revelation.
And therefore all of the Bible ought to
be preached.
And that interested me.
That comment that that was a part of
the Bible that should not be preached.
And in my reading I kept that in
my mind.
And as I was reading through the gospel
of John shortly after that.
I noticed that the Lord Jesus had not
heard that piece of advice from my systematic
theology professor.
Because he kept talking about the doctrine of
divine election to the unsaved Pharisees and Sadducees.
And I rather thought though I highly respected
my theology professor and still do as a
great man of God.
I often give indications of that in quoting
him.
But in this instance at least I do
think that he was wrong.
We must not seem to be scoffing at
the Holy Spirit for publishing what ought to
be suppressed.
And therefore we ought to proclaim everything that
is found in the divine revelation.
Now Calvin speaking specifically about the doctrine of
predestination.
Said whoever then heaps odium upon the doctrine
of predestination openly reproaches God.
As if he had unadvisedly let slip something
hurtful to the church.
In other words when a person heaps odium
or hatred upon the doctrine of predestination.
He is saying in effect Lord you have
unadvisedly revealed something that really is harmful for
the church of Jesus Christ.
I rather take the other view.
I think that he has revealed what is
helpful to the church of Christ.
And if it causes division then we must
not attribute the cause to the preaching of
election.
But to the sin of the human heart.
For the gospel always causes division.
Because man's heart is wicked.
And so therefore in spite of the advice
of professor Leupold.
And with a great deal of trepidation I
want to attempt to handle this chapter.
I think also I should mention this that
I hesitate to say anything about this chapter
for another reason.
We are living in a very sad era
of our society.
And particularly I think in our western world.
And I believe especially in the United States
of America.
We often say we're living in the age
of anxiety.
Or we say we are living in the
age of adultery.
But we are really living in the age
of offensiveness.
Our society is to use an adjective which
I think is gross.
Gross.
It is.
Our society is gross.
In Time Magazine in the essay.
There was an essay on back to reticence.
I wish it were possible to read the
whole essay.
Because I think it was well written and
makes a very significant point.
And the point is that what we are
living in is an age of grossness.
He doesn't say that but that is precisely
what we are living in.
He refers to the behavior of some of
our leading tennis stars on the tennis court.
And in effect says that what has happened
is that the tennis courts.
Which were originally places where rather nice people
used to play the nice person's game.
Has become very much like a roller derby.
With all kinds of grossness manifested there.
In the activities and actions and gestures of
the participants.
Goes on to speak of much of the
other type of grossness that exists in the
United States.
And comes back finally calling us to some
reticence.
One of the saddest things today is that
the offensiveness which appears in our society.
Began under the guise of what has been
thought to be a very refreshing virtue.
Honesty.
And it is a refreshing virtue.
Honesty.
But the doctrine of letting it all hang
out has now resulted in a grossness.
And a crudeness and a coarseness in our
society.
That is very very bad in my opinion.
We know what life is like.
We don't have to be reminded of it
in public.
And I don't want to contribute to it.
And this chapter is a chapter in which
we have some of the grosser aspects of
human life set forth very plainly.
But nevertheless part of the Bible and so
I say with some trepidation.
I'll try to handle it.
I confess to you this is the first
time I have ever preached a sermon on
Genesis chapter 38.
I shouldn't have waited so long probably.
One might ask the question at this point.
Why is this chapter or why this story
found in this chapter.
Why is it in the Bible at all?
And of course we notice that it is
inserted here in the story of Joseph.
We have Joseph in chapter 37.
Joseph in chapter 39 and following.
Then suddenly here is this chapter 38 inserted
in the unfolding of the significance of Joseph.
In connection with the overall plan of God
with reference to Jacob and his sons.
Let me suggest that first of all the
reason that the Holy Spirit has given us
Genesis chapter 38.
Is that it reveals the grave moral dangers
that surrounded Jacob and his sons.
Among the Canaanites among whom they were living.
It also stresses the difficulty of keeping the
children of the chosen family pure.
Being untouched by the society about them.
In fact it's obvious things become so bad
in the land.
That deportation to the land of Egypt is
necessary.
Egypt was a land that was gross itself.
But nevertheless they didn't like strangers.
And they particularly didn't like shepherds.
And so when Israel went down into the
land of Egypt.
They were able to be separate from the
people.
Because of their own particular calling.
So this chapter here is a chapter that
reveals.
Why deportation to Egypt was necessary for Jacob
and his sons.
And then the following chapters will unfold.
How Joseph becomes the instrument of the physical
preservation.
Of the children of Israel in the land
of Egypt.
Chapter 38 also sets the faith and chastity
of Joseph.
In the context of the Canaanites and the
life there.
And shows the rarity of these virtues of
faith and chastity.
Among the people of God.
It has an important place in the unfolding
of the leadership of Judah.
Judah becomes the effective leader of the brothers.
As we shall see in the chapters that
follow.
And this chapter is a chapter about him.
About his wickedness.
About his sin.
But also about his repentant confession.
Near the end of the chapter.
And the beginning of the process.
Or the obvious beginning of the process of
sanctification in his life.
It is an interruption in the Joseph story.
Perhaps also to create some suspense.
Because one wonders well what happened to Joseph.
Since he was sold into Egypt into captivity.
To Potiphar Pharaoh's officer.
So the normal feeling as you finish chapter
37.
Is to say what has happened to Joseph.
And so chapter 38 holding off the information.
Perhaps does create some suspense.
Since his fate is in the balance.
And therefore there are reasons why this chapter
should appear here.
If we just think of the context of
it.
Now other lessons are also found in the
story.
Which culminates in the horror of Judah's and
Tamar's sin.
There is the nature of man's depravity.
You see it in Judah.
Who is of the chosen family.
You see it also in Tamar.
And it reveals something of the natural outworking
of the fact.
That we have sin in our members.
That nature of man's depravity becomes very very
coarse.
As one can see.
We also see the absolute justice of God.
Because when Ur does that which is evil
in the sight of the Lord.
God let me put it very bluntly.
God kills him.
That's what we read.
We read that evil.
That Ur was evil in the sight of
the Lord.
So the Lord took his life.
Now that reveals the justice of God.
Judgment on the sons of Judah.
Is the judgment of God.
So we have here then.
An outstanding illustration of the divine candor.
In the revelation of the hearts of the
chosen.
And also in a revelation of the justice
of God.
But we also have a marvelous revelation of
divine grace.
Marvelous grace shown to Judah.
In his repentance and growing sanctification.
And when we reflect on the ultimate outcome
of this.
That Tamar becomes one of those in the
line of our Lord.
We can see some manifestation of the marvelous
grace of God.
In its unfolding.
Well let's look at the chapter.
I like to go through the chapter as
quickly as possible.
And conclude with a lesson or two.
That one sees in it.
The opening five verses of this 38th chapter.
Unfold the details of Judah's marriage.
We read in verse one.
And it came about at that time.
That Judah went down or departed from his
brothers.
Now some of the commentators suggest.
That Judah departed from his brothers.
Because he had a falling out with them.
Over the fate of Joseph.
Because Judah had said in chapter 37.
In connection with the sale of Judah.
What profit is it for us to kill
our brother.
And cover up his blood.
Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites.
And not lay our hands on him.
For he is our brother.
Our own flesh.
So he had sought to defend Joseph to
some extent.
And commentators see in this an evidence.
That perhaps further disagreement arose.
Over the treatment of Joseph.
And he found it necessary to leave them.
But there is a haphazardness.
In the choosing of his wife.
That reminds one of Samson.
Judah when he went down to.
Visit a certain Adolamite.
Whose name was Hara.
Saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite.
Whose name was Shuah.
Incidentally his wife's name is never given in
this chapter.
She's simply called.
The daughter of a certain Canaanite.
Whose name was Shuah.
Or Shuah's daughter.
Well he goes down.
And he takes this woman.
And he goes into her.
And the marriage is evidently consummated.
Now this unnamed Canaanite.
Then becomes the wife of Judah.
Now this is one of the things.
That signifies the moral decline.
Of the chosen family.
This was something that was wrong.
It was wrong to take a wife.
Of the Canaanites.
Now the Apostle Paul.
In the New Testament.
Set forth in the plainest way.
The consequences of a believer.
Marrying an unbeliever.
We read in 2nd Corinthians chapter 6.
In verse 14.
Do not be bound together with unbelievers.
For what partnership hath righteousness and lawlessness.
Or what fellowship hath light with darkness.
Or what harmony hath Christ with Bilal.
Or what hath a believer in common with
an unbeliever.
That is a biblical principle.
From the beginning of the Revelation.
On through the end.
The Bible over and over and over again.
Warns believers against being yoked together with unbelievers.
Now there is no yoke that is more
of a yoke.
Than the yoke of marriage.
And consequently it is of the greatest importance.
That we in our marriages.
That we contract.
Contract them with believers.
If we are believers.
What fellowship does one who has.
Stands in a righteous position before God.
Have with someone who is unrighteous in the
sight of the Lord.
A believer is righteousness in Christ.
He is light in Christ.
He is the temple of God in Christ.
Indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Why should he marry?
What is the point of marriage with someone
who is unrighteousness.
Outside of Christ.
Who is darkness.
Being outside of Christ.
Who is not the temple of God.
But the temple of idol.
The temple of sin.
What fellowship is there between a believer and
an unbeliever.
And I speak especially to young people.
It is of the most importance.
That you listen carefully to the instruction from
the word of God.
Do not for one moment.
Seek to rationalize by saying.
Oh if I marry him.
Or if I marry her.
I'll be able to lead them to the
Lord.
That is a rationalization.
That is a direct disobedience of the word
of God.
Now I know you can give illustrations.
Of individuals who were unbelievers.
Who married believers.
And became believers.
There are illustrations of that.
That is marvelous.
Marvelous grace from the Lord.
But you cannot expect.
If you directly disobey the word of God.
To have the divine blessing.
And I.
My heart.
Truly bleeds for a lot of young people.
Who knowing this.
Still in a foolhardy fashion.
Disobey the word of God.
Find themselves yoked to unbelievers.
And then have to face the consequences of
what follows.
I wish it were possible for me.
To give you some of the illustrations.
That I've seen of this.
In many years of observing.
The practices and attitudes and actions.
Of fellow believers.
Now the next verses.
Six through eleven.
Describe Judah's procuring a wife for his son.
Judah selected his own wife.
But he decides he's going to select his
son's wife.
And so we read in verse six.
Now Judah took a wife for Ur his
firstborn.
And her name was Tamar.
Now the Bible goes on to say that.
Ur was evil in the sight of the
Lord.
That evil is not described.
In the light of the context.
We might be safe in saying it was
some form of sexual evil.
Since it was mentioned in the context of
marriage.
But do you notice the steep moral decline
in the chosen family.
Now you can find in the chosen family.
And also in Christian experience.
But there is a tendency to an immediate
deep plunge from grace.
When faith begins to wane.
The normal thing that happens in so many
of our Christian homes.
It's sad to observe.
Is this.
Grandfather or at a point in the past.
One man or one woman comes to an
understanding of the grace of God.
They have been brought to a deep conviction
of their sin.
They know the burden of what it is
to be lost, condemned.
And then God reveals to them.
The wonderful saving work of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
They look off to the cross.
They see that Christ has died for sins.
And they flee to the cross.
And they feel and know the burden of
sin has been removed.
They have an experience very much like Christians
experience.
When the burden rolled off of his back.
And what rolled down to the foot of
the cross.
And into the grave of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
And they know the freedom and the joy
and the vitality of being saved.
Having the forgiveness of sin.
And they have a vital Christian testimony.
And they seek to communicate it to their
families.
And they do in measure.
But second generation Christians so often.
Don't have the vital experience of the first
generation Christians.
Sometimes we don't really think that it's necessary
for our children.
To have a direct experience of the grace
of God themselves.
And so we do not encourage them and
challenge them.
To face the question of their own conversion
in a personal way.
We seem at times to encourage them.
To think that because they grew up in
a Christian home.
They are Christians.
But they need the same experience that grandfather
had.
That father had.
And you will observe this in families.
That frequently by the time the second, the
third, sometimes the fourth generation comes.
There's not a great deal of faith in
the grandchildren.
But at other times the decline is much
steeper.
And even in a father and mother who
know the principles of grace.
And have had the experience of salvation.
When faith begins to wane and interest in
spiritual things begin to wane.
Then suddenly in the almost immediate family.
There's a plunge into sin.
One thinks of that.
When you look at this.
Judah the son of Jacob.
And now in his children.
And they are evil children.
Ur and Onan.
Now the sin of Onan has to do
with the custom of leveret marriage.
To which I have referred.
It was the custom.
And evidently it was countenanced by God.
Regarded as right.
Because what he did was displeasing in the
sight of the Lord.
Moses says.
It was later incorporated into Mosaic law.
If a man died.
Before he had children.
But he had a brother.
It was his brother's responsibility to.
Go into his brother's wife.
And to raise up an heir for that
brother.
Because the property and the estate depended upon
it.
And that was incorporated into Mosaic law.
It is the law of leveret marriage.
Now Onan knew this.
But he rebelled against it.
And refused to carry out his duty to
his brother.
Now why was there so much displeasure?
Why did God kill him for this?
Well in the first place.
It was a persistent practice on his part.
Now the New American Standard Bible.
Is I think.
Not as accurate as it might be.
In the translation of verse 9.
I know that's disappointing to some.
Some have been told.
If you get the New American Standard Bible.
Why you'll have all these corrections.
The preachers make in the text.
They had to say that's not true.
You see the original text.
Must be interpreted like anything else.
And interpreters differ in their opinion.
Of the meaning of the context.
In the final analysis.
No translation is perfect.
Now this translation was made by some students
of mine.
And I don't like to correct my own
students.
But in verse 9.
When it says.
So it came about.
That when he went in to his brother's
wife.
If you'll look.
If you were able to look at the
Hebrew text at this point.
You would see that this was not a
once and for all occasion.
But rather refers to a persistent practice.
And so the when of verse 9.
Should be translated whenever.
And in the New International Version.
It has been corrected.
And it is there whenever.
So we should read then verse 9.
And Onan knew that the offspring would not
be his.
So it came about.
That whenever he went in to his brother's
wife.
He wasted his seed on the ground.
In order not to give offspring to his
brother.
So this was displeasing to the Lord in
the first place.
Because it was a persistent practice.
On Onan's part.
He and Tamar evidently had sexual relationships.
A number of times.
And every time.
He would.
As the text says.
Waste his seed on the ground.
It was whenever.
Another reason why it was so displeasing to
the Lord.
Was because evidently it was done for greed.
He knew that that offspring would not be
his.
So if a son was born.
That son would inherit the property of his
brother Ur.
And that he would not be recognized as
Judah's son.
But rather as Onan's son.
But as Ur's son.
And hence.
It seems he wanted the property of his
brother.
Because it would ultimately belong to the family.
And he would have a larger portion.
And it was also a perversion of marriage.
Marriage is a divine institution.
He was doing what is called.
Taking preventive measures.
Dr. Barnhouse says in his comments.
Perhaps a little too strongly.
Onan was slain.
Because he was the first man to practice
birth control.
Now he goes on to qualify that a
little bit.
By saying that a doctor may prescribe birth
control.
But there can be no doubt.
That Onan's disobedience was an abomination to the
Lord.
When God kills a man for it.
We had better pay attention.
It was a perversion of marriage.
A perversion of the divine institution.
It certainly was a perversion of the will
of God.
And that I think is the important thing.
It was a studded outrage against the will
of God.
Against his family.
And also against his body.
And out of what he was doing constantly.
Has come the term Onanism.
Which is a word that refers to sexual
aberrations.
Including such as.
Including such things as masturbation.
So this was a direct outrage against the
will of God.
It's not surprising then.
That we read what he did was displeasing
in the sight of the Lord.
So he took his life also.
He committed sin unto death.
By this persistent sin.
Now that is something that is taught in
the New Testament my Christian friend.
Persistent sin or sin unto death.
Is something that takes place in the age
of the church.
We read in 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
That because of the things that were happening
at the Lord's table.
The disorders there.
Some are weak Paul says.
Some are sickly.
And some have fallen asleep.
To sin against the Lord God as a
member of the family of God.
Exposes us to the discipline of God.
And that discipline is a discipline so severe.
That it ultimately involves our physical life.
So it's a serious thing to sin against
the Lord God.
It's a serious thing to sin persistently against
the Lord God.
Now evidently Judah infected by the superstition of
the Canaanites.
Began to think that Tamar was ill omened
or ill starred.
And that bad luck was associated with any
relationship to her.
Because Ur had died and Onan also had
died.
He doesn't realize that it's because of their
evil that they have died.
But rather associates it with Tamar.
And so since he has a third son
by the name of Shelah.
He does not want Shelah to marry Tamar.
Because he thinks that maybe the same thing
will happen to him.
So he suggests that Tamar.
Although he had responsibility to her to give
her Shelah.
That Tamar remain a widow in her father's
house until Shelah grows up.
But he did not intend to give Shelah
to her.
So that Shelah might be the means of
a son and an heir for her.
Well the situation changes with the death of
Judah's wife.
We read in the twelfth verse.
Now after considerable time she was daughter the
wife of Judah died.
And when the time of mourning was ended.
Judah went up to his sheep shearers at
Timnah.
This was a time of festivities.
It was a time of celebration.
It was a time in which they reaped
the benefits of their work.
Of handling the flocks.
The shepherds were at this time of the
year.
Happy, festive.
There no doubt was a great deal of
drinking of wine.
A great deal of celebration.
And of course a great deal of evil.
Because of the society of the time.
Well word came to Tamar that Judah had
gone up to be with the sheep shearers.
And realizing that time was not on her
side.
And that Shelah was not being given to
her.
This indomitable woman.
Because she was an indomitable woman.
Say what you will about her.
She was a sinner.
What she did was wrong.
But nevertheless.
She is an indomitable woman.
Very much like an Esther.
And she is concerned with her right as
a matriarch in the line of Judah.
Because she was married to the eldest son.
And being married to the eldest son.
She knew that her offspring possessed certain rights.
And knowing the Canaanite cult encouraged ritual fornication.
As a kind of fertility magic.
She decides on this rather weird scheme.
That she will go up.
And she will play the part of a
temple prostitute.
Now the odds of success were exceedingly large.
But it's remarkable.
That exactly what she anticipated would happen.
Did happen.
She either knew her man.
She either saw him coming.
Knew her man.
Or looking at her from the other side.
And of course this is the important thing
really.
It was the providence of God that this
take place.
So we see the sad picture.
Of the head of the royal line Judah.
Haggling with what he thought was a prostitute.
Over the price of sexual intercourse.
She's very smart.
She demands a pledge.
In order that she might have protection.
And so her scheme is successful.
Judah makes an attempt afterwards to pay his
debt.
It was by the way the going price.
The kid of the goats.
In other passages of the Bible that same
price is mentioned.
So it was the going price.
And when he sought to pay it.
Tamar could not be found.
Now then later on the inevitable happened.
It became known that Tamar was pregnant.
And so Judah is the head of the
family.
And word comes to him.
It is described in verse 24.
Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the
harlot.
And behold she is also with child by
harlotry.
And so Judah.
In a vent, venting his explosive anger.
But down deep within I think he was
greatly relieved.
Because that meant that Sheila would not have
to be given to her.
Venting his anger outwardly.
He says bring her out and let her
be burned.
But she had the goods on him.
And so as she was being brought out.
She just brought forth that little signet ring.
And the cords and the staff.
And incidentally there were the markings of identification
on these staffs.
And so she just simply sent them to
Judah.
And she said I am with child.
By the person to whom these things belong.
And he looks at them.
Recognizes them as his own.
Realizes that evasion is impossible.
And blurts out the repentant words.
I rather think there is some question about
that.
But I rather think they are repentant words.
He says she is more righteous than I.
She is more in the right than I
am.
A clear admission that his fornication with her
was an illicit fornication.
Oh the candor of the Bible.
For you see this is the one from
whom our Lord derives his name.
The Lion of the tribe of Judah.
And this is his ancestor.
Well the chapter ends with the description of
the birth of the twin sons.
And of the naming of these sons.
We don't have time to say anything about
that.
Let me just say a few words in
conclusion.
Thus ends the chapter filled with the horror
of this fearful and lurid story.
The redeeming features are very few.
But Judah's confession of repentance.
And perhaps some of the lessons justify its
inclusion in the word of God.
I certainly would go with the Lord God
in this case.
And one of the things that immediately comes
home to you.
Is the possibility of evil that is latent
in human nature.
Even in religious human nature.
I have no doubt but that Judah.
Outwardly at least seemed to the men of
the Canaanites.
To be a religious man identified with the
Lord God Jehovah.
But it reveals that even religious people.
Have the sin principle dwelling within them.
And the possibilities of evil are deep and
persistent.
And overpowering.
Until the saving work of the Lord Jesus
Christ takes place.
And even then as believers.
The sin principle still dwells within our members.
But there is a kind of stress on
the grace of God in this.
That I think is marvelous.
Because in the Lord's dealings with Judah.
One can see the beginning of a definite
growth in sanctification.
And furthermore in the Lord's relationship to Judah
and Tamar.
We see illustrated the principles of grace in
the Bible.
When you turn over to the first chapter
of the book of Matthew.
You are somewhat startled.
If you just read that chapter.
To read these words that open the gospel
of Matthew.
I'm going to read them.
Because I think they are startling.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
The son of David.
The son of Abraham.
To Abraham was born Isaac.
And to Isaac Jacob.
And to Jacob Judah and his brothers.
And to Judah were born Perez and Zerah.
By Tamar.
There she is.
In the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Incidentally to begin a gospel with a genealogy.
Strikes us modern westerns as singular to say
the least.
To preface the life of the Lord Jesus.
With an elaborate table of descents.
Through 41 generations.
And then to show that the 42nd generation.
Doesn't have any real connection with the 41st.
Seems to us to be irrelevant.
But that's the way this gospel begins.
Because you see it is designed to show
us.
That our Lord while he is connected with
the line.
Is nevertheless of it because he was born
of a virgin.
Well one of the surprising things about this
genealogy.
Is the fact that it contains five women
within it.
Now that's not surprising to us in our
society.
Which has been influenced so much by the
feminism of today.
We might wonder and look at this and
say.
Why are not more women in it?
In fact there are some that would say.
Why don't, why aren't the women here and
the men missing?
Well that's an interesting question.
What a collection of women are found in
it.
One of the commentators says.
It's not normal to find the names of
women.
In Jewish pedigrees at all.
The women had no legal rights.
They were regarded not as persons but as
things.
Now that's wrong but nevertheless.
Some have thought that women's rights were so
few.
That one could almost say that.
We know that the Jews prayed a regular
morning prayer.
Oh God I thank thee that thou hast
not made me a Gentile, a slave or
a woman.
That's a lovely prayer isn't it men.
Now think about these women though.
Think about the women that are included.
There is Tamar.
The deliberate seducer and adulteress.
Considered a Gentile.
Rahab the Gentile harlot of Jericho.
Ruth the Moabitess.
Of whom it is said concerning Moabites.
That they should not enter into the congregation
of the Lord.
Bathsheba.
The woman who was seduced by David.
And whose husband was treated with unforgettable cruelty.
And the fifth woman.
The Virgin Mary.
Amazing.
That these women.
And these particular women.
Should be there.
Three.
Who seem strangely there.
Two particularly.
One a harlot.
And the other the deliberate seducer and adulteress.
Tamar.
Now one of the reasons for this of
course.
Is to disarm perhaps Jewish criticism of our
Lord's birth.
To remind those who read this.
That in the story of the Messianic succession
of the Old Testament.
There are some unusual incidents recorded in it.
And made part of the ancestor of the
Messiah.
There's a stress also upon the sovereignty of
God in the providence.
By which in unexpected ways God carries out
his purpose.
One thing is certain.
A Jew would never have used such a
genealogy.
Unless tradition compelled him to do so.
And so this genealogy is not one that
is manufactured by a man seeking to deceive
anyone.
He would never have put these.
He would never have put women in the
genealogy.
And he wouldn't have put these women.
So the inclusion of the women is a
tribute to the genuineness of the ancestry of
our Lord.
But most of all.
It illustrates the fact that the Lord Jesus
is truly one of us.
Apart from sin.
Not infected by sin.
He is nevertheless one of us.
And in his own ancestry.
In his own genealogy.
There is to be found Tamar.
Rahab.
Ruth.
Bathsheba.
And then of course the Virgin Mary.
And being one of us.
He is able to be our representative.
Our substitute.
The one who dies for his own.
So how encouraging to read right in the
beginning of the New Testament.
That he is qualified to be our representative.
And to save us from sin.
The sin of a Judah.
The sin of a Tamar.
Or whatever the particular manifestation of our evil
nature may be in our own lives.
He is able to save us from it.
If you are here this morning and you
have never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don't comfort yourself by saying you have not
been guilty of the sins of Ur or
Onan or Judah or Tamar.
The evil that is latent in the hearts
of men is latent in your own heart.
And given the proper occasion.
It will manifest itself.
And it will if it is not forgiven.
It will take you to the lake of
fire ultimately.
May God help you to see your guilt.
Your condemnation.
May God help you to see your need.
And that your case is hopeless apart from
the saving work of Jesus Christ.
And may God help you to see that
he has provided a remedy for sinners.
The cross of Christ.
And may God give you the grace and
the fear.
If necessary to flee to the cross of
Christ.
To receive as a free gift everlasting life.
It doesn't come by joining the church.
By praying through.
Doing good works.
Any religious works.
It comes as we recognize that our case
is hopeless.
And flee to the mercy of God.
And receive in grace the salvation he has
provided.
For by grace are you saved through faith.
That not of yourselves.
It is the gift of God.
Not of works lest any man should boast.
Come to Christ.
Put your trust in him.
Find deliverance from the forgiveness of sins.
May we stand for the benediction.
Father we are so thankful to thee that
we have the word of God.
All 66 books and all of the chapters
in the books.
We know there are difficult things in some
of them.
But we know that with good reason they
are there.
We give thee thanks for the chapter that
we have read through and studied.
May its lessons impress themselves upon our hearts.
May grace and mercy and peace go with
us as we leave today.
And if there should be some who have
not come to Christ.
O God through the Holy Spirit.
If it should please thee bring them to
the knowledge of him.
In his name we pray.
Amen.