Perhaps the most startling thing about Song of Songs Rabbah is some of its introductory material:

Said R. Hanina, “Like a deep well full of water, and the waters were cold, sweet and wholesome, but no one was able to drink from the well because there was no way to draw the water. Then a man came along and tied rope to rope and cord to cord, and he drew from the well and drank. Then everyone began to draw from the well and drink. Likewise, Solomon understood the Torah—he linked word to word and proverb to proverb, so that Israel could understand it. (Song of Songs Rabbah 1.1.8)

The results of Solomon’s learning are found in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. These books—but especially the Song of Songs—are made so that the community of Israel can draw up and drink the sweet and wholesome words of the Torah.

The verse quoted above is an example of how Song of Songs Rabbah functions as a rope to pull up sweet waters. Its message: From beginning (the “greeting of love”) to end (redemption), God is like a gazelle, leaping over all obstacles to redeem Israel. The Divine Lover leaps over all obstacles to redeem Israel. Whatever takes place on the surface of the Scriptures—in Egypt, at the Sea, or at Sinai, for example—Scripture is understandable and “sweet” only if we understand God’s underlying love and commitment to his first covenant people. And the coming of Yeshua is the greatest expression of that love.