With eight wins and four draws from the previous 12 meetings, Lille would have been revelling at the chance to take on Jean-Louis Gasset’s strugglers, yet Les Dogues failed to have a shot on target until the 39th minute - a Mitchel Bakker effort which was easily saved by Benjamin Lecomte.
That proved to be the game’s catalyst, as soon after the home side came close to a spectacular goal when Arnaud Nordin’s knockdown teed up Teji Savanier, whose fierce volley produced a fine stop from Lucas Chevalier.
Just a minute later, a rash challenge from Jordan Ferri on Matias Fernandez-Pardo gave the referee no choice but to award the visitors a penalty. David sent Lecomte the wrong way for his eighth of the campaign.
However, if Lille thought it would be plain sailing from then on, they were in for a surprise in first-half stoppage time, when a Savanier corner was guided home by the head of Issiaga Sylla, who gave the goalkeeper no chance and sent the sides in level at half-time.
Not learning their lessons from the first half, the second period began with Montpellier conceding another penalty, this time for a clumsy foul by Joris Chotard on Remy Cabella.
Lecomte guessed correctly this time, but David’s strike into the roof of the net was beyond his reach.
On the occasion of their 600th home top flight fixture, La Paillade fought hard to carve out a second equaliser, but passed up a golden chance when Savanier sent Musa Al-Taamari clean through on goal, only for the Jordanian to fire over the bar with just Chevalier to beat.
That looked to be that, until the 94th minute, when a hopeful cross created pinball in the Lille box before Nordin emerged from the melee and prod home the equaliser.
Bruno Genesio’s side missed the chance to climb to third in the table despite a seventh away match unbeaten.
Despite the positive finish, Montpellier remain winless against LOSC since 2017 and were reduced to 10-men late on, when Tanguy Coulibaly was dismissed for an off-the-ball challenge.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jonathan David (LOSC Lille)