The declaration “what could have been done more to my vineyard” is the same phrase used by the master of the vineyard in the allegory of Zenos (see Jacob 5:47). Although Zenos refers to the whole vineyard, and not just the “pleasant plant” of Judah as designated by Isaiah, both conditions show that the Lord gives full opportunity within the framework of man’s agency wherein man must choose and do his part.
What the Lord will do to his vineyard is repeated in 2 Nephi 17:17–25 (Isaiah 7:17–25), and was discussed in the previous chapter. Assyria is the Lord’s hired razor (2 Nephi 17:20) to do his damaging work (v. 5), except for the Lord withholding the rain (v. 6). His doing so is another evidence of the Lord using the weather to accomplish his purposes. Amos quotes the Lord saying: “And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest” (Amos 4:7 see also Amos 4:6–10; Helaman 12:7–17; D&C 43:25). Following Assyria’s conquest, the land will become briars and thorns as foretold in both chapters (2 Nephi 5:6; 17:23).