ASPERSION
(a) OF BLOOD
The sprinkling of blood was an essential part of the OT sacrifices (Lev. 4:6, 7). The blood of the victim represented life itself offered on the altar in the sinner’s place, prefiguring the great substitutionary sacrifice of the cross (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:18-22).
By sprinkling, this purifying blood was applied to the sinner himself, as if to wash away his sins which, from now on, were expiated.
Moses also sanctified in this way the altar, the book of the covenant, the tabernacle, its utensils, the people and the sacrificers (Ex. 24:6-8; 29:21; Lev. 8:30; Heb. 9:18- 22).
Thus, it was not enough that bloodshed had taken place, without which there can be no forgiveness; The sprinkling that applied this blood personally to the sinner was necessary.
Let us note that in relation to Christ we expressly speak of “the sprinkled blood” (Heb. 12:24), and that according to Peter the elect are “sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:2).
(b) OIL
Oil sprinkling was also frequently used. Just as the anointing of oil on the priest was a type of the anointing of the Holy Spirit given to all believers (Ex. 29:7; 1 John 2:20, 27), the sprinkling of oil can be said to It represented the application to the believer of the life-giving and sanctifying virtue of the Holy Spirit. The priests, their vestments, and the sanctuary were also sprinkled with oil (Lev. 8:10-11, 30).
(c) OF WATER
Sometimes purification water was used in a similar way. This water was mixed with the blood of a pure bird (Lev. 14:6), or with the ashes of the chestnut heifer (Num. 19:2, 9).
The sprinkling of water on the leper (Lev. 14:7), on a defiled house (Lev. 14:51), or on a man who had defiled himself and his tent (Num. 19:18) gave additional expression to the same fundamental truth: purification is not at all an action of man, but comes from the atoning sacrifice, and must be applied directly to him and to everything that concerns him.