Genesis 38 is the antithesis of the Song of Solomon. Everything that God made beautiful and pure in the intimacy of marriage is here desecrated by Judah and his family. Genesis 38 is important to preach for several reasons. 1) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. 2) Whatever was written beforehand was written for our benefit so that through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 3) The lineage of the Messiah is dealt with here. 4) Because Messiah's ancestry is traced through the immorality of Judah's family, the theme of God's superintending good through the midst of man's evil is stressed yet again. 5) Joseph's purity in chapter 39 is all the more highlighted by the impurity of Judah's family. 6) Israel receives a memorable story about the dangers of becoming "Canaanized." 7) We are warned about the consequences and shame of sin in an age of rampant sexual immorality.