David, the 2nd king of Israel, lived 1,000 years before Paul, the writer of the letter to the Romans. Abraham lived 2,000 years before Paul. Paul said in this chapter that Abraham, David, and he have several things in common in regards to their relationship with God. The most important thing they had in common is that they had faith in God in the most impossible life circumstances, though under different life situations.
Abraham wanted to be the father of a son more than anything else. When he was 75 years old God promised him that he would not only have one son, but he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 12). Abraham believed the Lord God enough to obey him.
Many years later Abraham was afraid and depressed because he still hadn’t had a son and his nephew left him. The Lord God visited him and restated his promise to Abraham. “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). Abraham had faith in God when it didn’t make any human sense.
The Lord God anointed David to be the second king of Israel when he was only a shepherd boy. After a hard life, David eventually became king many years later (2 Sam. 5, 1 Chron. 11).
When David was past middle age he committed adultery with one of his trusted soldier’s wives. David then tried to cover up this sin by secretly arranging the death of his trusted soldier (2 Sam 11). These 2 sins conducted in secret burned David’s conscience (Ps. 32:3-4).
When the prophet Nathan confronted David about these sins David knew he deserved death, confessed his sin, and awaiting sure punishment (2 Sam. 12). Amazingly, the Lord forgave David and David believed him (2 Sam. 12). David then proclaimed, “What a blessing when God forgives our sins and our evil deeds. What a blessing when the Lord erases our sins from his book.” (Psalm 32:1-2, 7-8). David had faith in God when it didn’t make any human sense.
The Lord God has made me promises in his word. In regard to these promises, my life contains the most impossible life circumstances that seem to counter the Lord God’s promises. Yet, like David, Abraham, and Paul I believe “the promises come by faith so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. (16)” I believe the words “it was credited to him” were written not for Abraham alone, but also for me, to whom God will credit righteousness—for I believe in him who raised Jesus the Lord from the dead. (23, 24). I believe all his promises will be fulfilled even though life circumstances say they cannot.