Psalm 17 – How New Testament Prayers Differ From The Old Testament

Do New Testament prayers differ from the Old Testament? But wait – the title says “how” – not “do”! So there must be differences. Aren’t we still praying to God? Well, yes. But there are differences between the Old and the New Covenants. Therefore, it’s not unreasonable to see differences in the way we pray today.

For instance, we know more about God.

And we know more about salvation and what that means.

Not everything. But more.

So yes, our prayers do differ.

But we can still use David’s “prayer” in this Psalm as an example of how to pray.

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There are 150 Psalms. This is just one of them that gives us a good template for praying to God. Even today. We just need to learn how things have changed between the Old and New Testaments / Covenants. Then adjust accordingly. And we have a good example of how we can pray.

It’s good for new Christians, of course, But it can also be good for long-time followers of Jesus when we just can’t quite figure out how to express ourselves.

During the darkest time of my life, I apparently did something I don’t even remember doing. I say apparently, because I found the evidence. Spiral notebooks, in my writing, where I just copied Psalms. Not in any obvious order. It’s like I must’ve just randomly picked one. And then copied it.

Even if we don’t change anything, they’re still praise for God. Acknowledgment of His awesome power. Realization of how much He cares about and for us, and how much He loves us. So when we go through them in a prayerful fashion, it’s also acknowledgment from us to Him about all those things and more. In that way, it’s also a cry to Him for help. And that’s how David began this Psalm.

^{Ps 17:1} Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.