What does Isaiah 5:4 mean?

At this point in Isaiah's parable, his beloved calls out to the men of Jerusalem and Judah. He specifically asks if there was anything more he could have done to avoid this outcome. The answers of those who hear these questions are not recorded. In a region with so many vineyard workers, it's likely that many men would have had opinions about what could have been done differently or what should be done next.

The great strength of a parable like this is that it could get the reader thinking about how he or she would answer these questions. Parables are most helpful when they engage the audience and have the reader put themselves inside the story. This will likely cause the impact to be that much stronger when Isaiah reveals the true meaning behind the song in Isaiah 5:7. In this case, the question is more of a statement: I did everything correctly, so the blame is not mine.