Beauty.

Just listening to the song "Beautiful" by Johannes and finishing up Exodus and starting Leviticus.
What a deadly combo.

And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had
let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), then Moses
stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD's side?
Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. And he said
to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your
side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the
camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his
neighbor.’” And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses.
And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. And Moses
said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each
one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow
a blessing upon you this day.”
(Exodus 32:25-29 ESV)

It seems highly controversial to refer to such a passage to the Lord's beauty, but I see it as highly fitting. This fits quite nicely on the line of the cost of following God (as well as the opposite reaction).

Can you still cry out to God and claim that He is beautiful? After reading such a brutal passage?
I wonder of our own understanding of Him. Do we place more fundamental value on the basis of our own understanding over the reality of our Lord? Do we cringe and subtly deny the parts of our most Holy God when He seems a bit too absurd for our standards?

This Holiness of God is most to be worshiped. The same God who is jealous for His own name sent down His Son and smote Him. Just as the Levites were called to be "ordained" to service by the shedding of blood, so was Jesus the great High Priest! By the shedding of His own blood for His enemies, he has brought us near.

God's own Holiness shed blood to bring us into His presence and cover our sins. What beauty! What worth! Truly, truly He is beautiful:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
(Revelation 1:12-18 ESV)

What a beautiful Messiah we serve! What a glorious One! To Him be all glory, power, and dominion forever and ever.

I will follow You to wherever you take me, though no may go with me. Whatever I suffer through, it will be worth it! I love you Jesus!