The psalms associated with the Genesis account of Noah have tended to focus on the way of the righteous, highlighting the fact that Noah was a righteous man who walked with God (Gen 6:6-9).
Psalm 17 follows this trend. Here David brings an urgent need before God, asserting that his cause is just. The sages in the midrash on the Psalms thought of Proverbs 15:8: "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him." David's prayer is a prayer of the upright.
We also think of James 5:16: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
David in his prayer asks for vindication and investigation (v 2). He asserts his loyalty to God and sincerity in following Him, and he is open to correction and guidance (as in Ps 139:23-24). He is not bragging or being self-righteous, just speaking honestly.
David prays with great confidence, showing the close relationship that he has with God. He is confident in God's merciful character (as in 2 Sam 24:14).
David feels surrounded and besieged by enemies (reminding us of Ps 22, and showing David as a type of the suffering Messiah). In his suffering, he places himself in God's hands. He is not concerned about attaining worldly riches, but is content with God's presence, both the next morning and in a future resurrection (v 15).
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